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PAGE 8 NON COOPERATION OF BANKS ABORT CENTRAL SCHEME FOR SELFEMPLOYMENT 6 Jets Touch Down For Opening Of Agra-Lucknow Expressway, India's Longest Unnao : Six fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) starred in the grand opening on Monday of India's longest expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was present when his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav opened the Agra-Lucknow Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow.

Vol. II

Issue 125

Dibrugarh, Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Details Steps to Fight Fake News

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Price -

Pengaree Ambush

Martyred Soldiers honoured

by Army and Police Hunt for militants continues Laxman Sharma Digboi, Nov 21

Patna : Promulgation of a stringent liquor law coupled with a string of new development initiatives to provide power, toilets and drinking water to every household were the highights of the annual report card released by the Nitish Kumar government on the completion of a year in office.

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Non co-operation of banks abort central scheme for self-employment Agartala : Wilful non cooperation of the nationalised banks is aborting an attractive scheme designated as 'Stnad-up India' by the central government for self-employment of unemployed youths. The scheme, launched on April 16 this year, targets unemployed youths belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and women who are required to submit a viable and detailed self-employment scheme .

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Dr Bikash Roy to donate Rs 25 thousand to NGO for child welfare Agartala, Nov 21: Tripura's renowned paediatrician Dr Bikash Roy who was conferred a prestigious national award in Delhi on the national childrens day on November 14 has decided to donate Rs 25 thousand-part of the cash reward Rs.1 Lakh given by the government of India- to 'Matrichhaya', a reputed NGO working for children with dedication in the state.

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Top officials of Dinjan based Army fraternity led by senior Army and police officials paid rich tributes to the three martyred jawans who were killed in an ambush by ULFA on 19 November.

Havelder Multan Singh (42), of Utter Pradesh Nayak Narpat Singh (38) of Rajasthan and Rishi Paul Singh of Haryana, martyred in an ambush, were honoured with full state honours by the Army at a ceremony in Dinjan HQ on Monday morning.

Shradhanjali paid to the martyred soldiers of the Pengeri attack at the Dinjan Army camp in Tinsukia on Sunday. Photo by Manoj Pandey

After the ceremony, the Army made arrangements for transporting the mortal remains of all the martyrs directly to their respective hometowns.

Meanwhile, the combined security forces belonging to different wings of the Indian Army have been intensively combing the entire area to nab

the militants involved in the gruesome attack upon the soldiers of 15 Kumaon Regiment of Indian army based at Pengaree on Digboi-

Pengaree Road. Though allout efforts have been rendered for last two days, the desired outcome is yet to be surfaced till the filling of this report.

The militant hunt operation was being carried out based of an FIR registered under Pengaree case No 63/16 prosecuted u/s 120(b)/ 121/ 121 (a)/ 341/ 350(c)/427/302/ 307/379 of IPC r/w Sec 3/4 of Explosive Substance Act r/w Sec 25(1-a/27(2) of Armas Act r/wSec 10/13 UAPA Act. Meanwhile, during a visit of the Eastern Today’s correspondent here this morning to the neighbouring villages of Khal gaon, Mukuk Gaon, Kherjan and some pockets of Pengaree it was found that the common people have been trying to restore their normal routine without much apprehension. Agrarian women folk were busy reaping their harvest in the paddy field; children were seen going to their respective schools and vehicles plying on Penagree Digboi Road conveniently.

CM Sonowal to Banks: facilitate hassle-free disbursal of payment of tea garden workers A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 21

Underlining the importance of quick and efficient measures to expedite financial inclusion of tea garden workers as well as to ensure timely disbursal of weekly remuneration to them in a cashless manner, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today directed the Banking authorities to ensure opening of bank accounts of each of the tea garden workers of the state facilitating disbursal of weekly wages through Bank accounts within a fixed time frame.

In a high level meeting, which was attended by top Bank officials and representatives of Tea

In a high level meeting, which was attended by top Bank officials and representatives of Tea Associations, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the tea garden workers should not face any inconvenience in availability their wages on time.

142nd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Birsa Munda

Deputy CM urges Adivasi youths to avail educational opportunity in Arunachal

Pages- 12

PAGE 12

6-Year-Old Boy, Border Security Force (BSF) Soldier Killed In Pak Firing

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Nitish govt releases its annual report card

5.00

Associations, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the tea garden workers should not face any inconvenience in availability their wages on time. “Banks must put up a system which ensure that the Tea garden economy and its network of bussiness doesn’t suffer due to non-availability of adequate fund for payment of wages”, Sonowal stressed.

He further said that each Bank must take steps for opening of Bank accounts of the tea garden workers who are still left out as per list prepared incoordination with the tea garden management and start disbursal through such accounts.

Contd. on Page 4

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SBI to distribute cash to ATM card holders in Sunpura Circle, Tezu ET Bureau Tezu, 21 Nov

For the convenience of the people of Sunpura Circle in the wake of current demonetization and under the initiative of Lohit District Administration, a team of State Bank of India, Tezu Branch will visit Sunpura circle under

Lohit district on November 22 (Tuesday) at 10 am to distribute cash at the Police Station Sunpura to the ATM card holders there.

Sunpura Circle is approximately 40 kilometers far away from the nearest bank or ATM.

Arunachal CM launches 'Jeevan Pramaan' sensitisation prog. ; scheme to ease with digitizing process

The Chief Minister appreciated this Government of India initiative and termed it as a huge boon to the aged pensioners of the state government.

ET Bureau, Itanagar, Nov 21

Chief Minister Pema Khandu today launched the Jeevan Pramaan sensitization programme in presence of the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Secretaries and officers of Information Technology & Communications and Audit and Pensions. Pensioners post their retirement; have to provide life certificates to the authorised pension disbursing agencies like the bank, following which their pension will be credited to their account. For obtaining a life certificate, a proof that he or she is alive, a pensioner earlier needed to be physically present before the Pension Disbursing Agency or had the life certificate issued by authority where they served and had it delivered to the disbursing agency. The procedure caused lot of hardship and unnecessary inconvenience particularly for the aged and infirm pensioners. Besides, a

lot of government employees post their retirement choose to move to different location either to be with their family or other reasons, hence causing a huge logistical issue when it comes to accessing their rightful pension amount.

Digital Life Certificate External website that opens in a new window for Pensioners scheme known as Jeevan Pramaan seeks to ease this very problem by digitizing the whole process of securing the life certificate. With this initiative the pensioners requirement to physically present himself or herself in front of disbursing agency or the certification authority will become a thing of the past benefiting the pensioners in a huge way and cutting down on unnecessary logistical hurdles as it uses the Aadhaar platform for biometric authentication of the pensioner.The Chief Minister appreciated this Government of India initiative and termed it as a huge boon to the aged pensioners of the state government.

Contd. on Page 4

India-Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Car Rally reaches Guwahati ANI Guwahati, Nov 21

The India-MyanmarThailand Friendship Car Rally which aims to improve road connectivity in South East Asia reached Guwahati yesterday.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the participants of the rally.

This rally is being held to sensitise stakeholders of India, Myanmar and Thailand about the benefits of the Motor Vehicle Agreement.

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Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein while participating in the 142nd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Birsa Munda at Lekang on

Sunday said, “Hard work is the mantra for economic development of the community”. Appreciating the Adivasi community for their contribution towards social and political development of the Indian society, he termed

their involvement in different spheres of life commendable.

He urged the community to find ways to improve their education ratio and to take up education as their base.

Contd. on Page 3

The rally, which was flagged off from India Gate in New Delhi, will cover a distance of 5,722 kilometers along the The India–Myanmar–Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway with about 80 participants from all

The rally, which was flagged off from India Gate in New Delhi, will cover a distance of 5,722 kilometers along the The India–Myanmar–Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway with about 80 participants from all the three countries, in 20 Indian made vehicles on a journey from Delhi to Bangkok over 19 days. (A File Photo) the three countries, in 20 Indian made vehicles on a journey from Delhi to Bangkok over 19 days.

Apart from Guwahati, the ceremonial flag off will also be held in Shillong, Kohima and Imphal and Began, Yangon in

Myanmar and Bangkok in Thailand.

The rally would finally conclude at Bangkok on December 2, which would further cement the cultural and economic ties among the three nations and would aim to underscore the potential

benefits of connectivity and integration in the region, keeping with India’s focus on its close neighborhood.

A trial run of passenger vehicles on the IMT Trilateral Highway up to Naypitaw in Myanmar was carried out from

November 9 to November14 in which Indian vehicles travelled to Myanmar on Imphal Mandalay -Bagan- Naypitaw route and back and Myanmar vehicles joined the Indian vehicles on the return journey from Naypitaw to Imphal and returning to Myanmar.

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ET Bureau Lekang, 21 Nov

The rally, which also aims to promote harmony and brotherhood between the three nations, will conclude on December 2 in Bangkok.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P2 Activists and locals stage ‘rasto rokho’ on NH38 in protest against murder of a youth Mithun Baruah, Margherita , 21 Nov: Activists of Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad Margherita Regional Committee and local residents of Hamukjan Ringgaon Ledo today staged “rasta rokho” for two hours at NH 38 Ledo College Tiniali road in protest against the arrest of those miscreants who killed Pintu Mura, a 28 years old youth of Hamukjan Ledo Gaon on Sunday evening. More than 300 local people of Hamukjan Ringgaon Ledo blocked the highway and shouted various slogans against

Photo seen Road Blocked programme today at Margherita by Activists of AJYCP and local residents of Hamukjan Ringgaon Ledo.Photo send by Mithun Baruah from Margherita

HOROSCOPE Aries

Today, Aries, you're in the mood for commitment! Take time to connect with the social world as you seek like-minded people who can share your intimate, individualistic realm.

Ultimately, we all have to figure out how to make our way in society. Today you will feel more sociable than usual. Expect to have some good ideas about ways you can enlarge your social circle.

Taurus

Your scattered energy comes together today in a powerful laser beam of concentrated attention and effort. You will work until you drop, and no one and nothing had better get in your way! Keep up the good pace. You're going to feel more loved than usual, and this changes absolutely everything for you.

Gemini

It seems that the new planetary lineup has just opened up some doors that had previously been shut. You revel in the confidence that people have in you. It isn't that your abilities have changed, just your attitude! People trust you because you exhibit more self-confidence. It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? Hold on to it at all costs.

Cancer

Leo

There is a possibility that you feel cheated or taken advantage of in some way. Do you feel as if you're paying more than your fair share? The day ahead gives you an opportunity to achieve recognition for your efforts and perhaps redress some grievances. It's odd that despite your tendency to espouse fairness, you feel uncomfortable when the authorities rule in your favor.

You're gifted at bringing people together, there's no doubt about that, Leo. Today will be especially good for participating in or initiating group activities. It's a favorable day for any project related to fellowship and assistance. You might do the groundwork to form a team, discussion group, or charitable endeavor.

Virgo

The day ahead won't be easy, Virgo. A glimpse at your love life reveals that you will be bridling at certain inhibitions. You long for peace and stability, and at the moment everything is in suspense. Use the day ahead to gain some perspective on the situation. Until the ice melts and the flow of events resumes, why not devote your energy to some other endeavor?

Libra

Lately, you've been nursing a feeling that your partner is inattentive. The tension has been building up and today, Libra, you're likely to boil over with the rage that comes from one too many doubts and suspicions. The forecast for love is stormy, without a doubt. But making up after the quarrel promises to be lots of fun.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Some days it's better to be on vacation! That's what you're liable to think today. All your projects are mired in quicksand, and you feel like you're spinning your wheels.

But even if things are momentarily stuck, don't lose faith. Your inner self is gaining stability.

When the time is right, it will be strong and reliable.

Deep inside, don't you have an urge to breathe new spirit into your love life? Of course, some things are more easily said than done. Currently, you don't have much time to devote to yourself, much less your partner. Affection could thrive if given half a chance. The day suggests that you commit yourself to making some decisions that will help bring you and your mate closer.

It's time to get what you need, Capricorn. Your desires don't always go in a direction that does you the most good, and this can cause tension.

You feel as though it's impossible to combine your desires with what is good for you, notably in your love life. You wrestle with whether you should remain in your "creative" cave or share your life with someone. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Take cover, Aquarius, because today promises to be an emotional roller coaster! Something seems to be askew with your relationships, and you feel torn in opposite directions.

One force is pushing you to enrich your inner universe and another force is pushing you into the arms of someone you've recently met. Stay busy to avoid confrontation.

People are going to think you're a star today, Pisces! Although you may not feel that way about yourself. What's gotten into you lately? Have you lost confidence in yourself? Are you now compensating for it? Do you feel a need for more success in your life? All this is possible, but you will have to take some risks if you're going to progress.

Margherita Police and Margherita Administration in failure to arrest those culprits who brutally killed Pintu Mura.Kanchan Bora General Secretary of AJYCP Margherita Regional Committee who was present at the “rasta rokho” programme said that at Margherita Region intoxicant products, illicit liquor and other kind of drugs have been rampantly found where students and youth are falling easy prey and the murder of Pintu Mura can have an angle of drug menace which might have gone out of hands.

“ M a r g h e r i t a Administration,Margherita Police and Margherita Excise department have an unholy nexus with the liquor mafia and selling of other kind of intoxicant products is on the rise and therefore contributing to the rise of crimes,” said Kanchan Bora. He further warned the Margherita Police and Margherita Administration to nab those miscreants immediately who killed Pintu Mura and to take action illicit liquor mafia and intoxicant products at Margherita Region.

Tasa, MP of Jorhat clears Governor shows the way; leads Swachh Bharat his stand on corruption Abhiyan in Dibrugarh

Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Member of Parliament from Jorhat in a press meet on Monday. Photo by Nekib Ahmed.

ET Correspondent Jorhat, 21 Nov: Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, the MP of Jorhat, hurriedly called a press meet at Jorhat Press Club, after he was blamed for not taking any steps on corruption of General Caste Development Council and Untied Fund by media. Following the arrest of DDC of Golaghat and former ADC of Jorhat Anjanav Chaliha , fingers have been raised at many bigshots and politicians of the District for not taking stand on corruption. In the press meet held in Jorhat Press Club on Monday, Tasa clarified that BJP will not compromise with corruption.

"We are not going to compromise with corruption” said Tasa. Assam police’s incompetence to find out the whereabouts of Pravat Kalita, Chairman of General caste development Council, who was the main accused gradually began to put a question mark.“We are surprised too as to why police is unable to nab Pravat Kalita" said Tasa in the press meet.He also added, that if somebody give shelter or help absconding Kalita, then action will also take against that particular person.

Tasa in the press meet accused the previous Congress Government for

failing to tackle the menace of corruption.Clearifieng himself Tasa said"CM himself is taking initiative on this case". On the other hand, corruption of untied fund, which is around 70 core will also be investigated soon.

Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, also mentioned that firm step will be taken against illegal trading of forest resources. Answering to Journalist in the press meet he said that he wrote a letter to CM for CID enquiry of the General Caste Development Council corruption case. " No one will be spared, who were in corruption" said Tasa.

Cinema Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall

Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit participating in a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme in Dibrugarh on Monday. Photo by Manoj Pandey A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 21: Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit led a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme in Dibrugarh on Monday.

The governor was joined by officers of the district administration, various department heads, Dibrugarh DC Laya Madduri, SP Gautam Borah and others during the cleanliness drive which was near the

Screen-1

Organised by the Jorhat Taekwando Association under the aegis of Taekwando Association of Assam, the main objective of this competition was to empower people with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society, through sports and training and athletes’ competition.

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cess. The governor also appealed to the people to lend their support to the drive against black money initiated by the Centre by demonetizing high value currency notes. He also cautioned citizens to avoid depositing money belonging to black money hoarders or tax evaders in their accounts saying the whole country must unite against the curse of black money.

Jorhat hosts first state-level Taekwondo Championship for disabled children ANI Jorhat, Nov 21 : The first Para Taekwando state-level and 11th District Level Open Martial Art Championship for the intellectual disabled children was held recently at PRERONA Spastic Society Centre in Jorhat, Assam.

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Dibrugarh Circuit House.

Purohit in his address compared the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to the Centre's crackdown on black money by banning high currency notes saying that both initiatives was about cleaning the country.

He said that the cleanliness drive has been embraced whole heartedly by the countrymen while adding that it was a continuous pro-

It was also organised with an aim to provide year round sports training and athletics competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and

adults, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

About 40 intellectual disabled children from different districts of the state have participated in the championship.

Besides, a CHILDLINE Jorhat branch was also opened during the championship. The primary objectives of the CHILDLINE India Foundation are as follows: -Ensuring that every child in India has access to emergency assistance by setting up the -CHILDLINE service in

different parts of the country.

-Facilitating rehabilitation of children all over India through a platform of networks amongst organizations throughout the country.

-Promoting child rights amongst every citizen through awareness about CHILDLINE 1098.

-Bringing forth core issues for advocacy, as determined by observing trends and gaps in service that emerge from Research and Documentation of issues related to children in need of care and protection.

-Promoting issues related to children in need of care and protection by sensitization of government organizations, non government organisations, corporate sector, media, street and community youth and concerned individuals.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

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Nocte Chalo Loku begins in Khonsa ET Bureau Khonsa, 21 Nov: Khonsa East MLA Wanglam Sawin and Engineer Likwang Lowang inaugurated the Nocte Indigenous Food Festival cum Handicrafts Sales and Exhibition stall on November 21 at Khonsa Nehru Stadium as part of the Nocte Chalo Loku (NCL) celebrations.

attires, coat and galeys, are the most important part of our tribal life, adding that raw materials like bamboo and wood are available everywhere in the jungles of Tirap district but people need proper training from technical skills’ experts, which would definitely help to support family livelihood in the days to come.

The NCL festival began from November 21 and shall continue till November 25 at Nehru Stadium, Khonsa.

Informing about the tentative sequence of NCL celebration from November 21 to 25, Loku Celebration Committee president Jowang Hosai and secretary advisor Gulley Sumnyan extended their gratitude to the guests and Advisor to CM, Wanglin Lowangdong for gracing the event.

Sawin and Lowang inspected 36 foods cum handicrafts stall and tried all the local indigenous food products brought from vari-

Quami Ekta Diwas observed in Tezu ET Bureau Tezu, 21 Nov: Quami Ekta Diwas was observed in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Tezu today with administration of an oath of communal harmony and national integration by SDO Gautam Hazarika.

All the members present pledged to never resort to violence and continue their endeavor towards settlements of all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region or other political or economic grievances by peaceful and constitutional means.

Among others, Deputy Commissioner Danish Ashraf, officers and other staff of Deputy Commissioner’s office, Tezu were also present on the occasion.

ous Nocte villages and also interacted with the local ar-

tisans.

Sawin said that production

of handloom and handicrafts, including traditional

1 sustains injuries in a bike accident at Diyun The injured student was admitted to Diyun CHC and reportedly guardian of the accused has agreed to bear all medical expenses of the victim.

bike were identified as two brothers Rikki Kamdak

(24) and Ritto Kamdak (19) sons of Turik kamdak

Both the riders have also sustained injuries and were referred to Dibrugarh for further treatment along with the victim.

Lt. Gen. Anbu, GOC, calls on CM; strategic discussion held ET Bureau, Itanagar, Nov 21: Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, GOC, 4 Corps, this morning called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu at his offices here. The informal meeting was also attended by the state’s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Secretary to CM. Expressing gratitude to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the state government, Lt Gen Anbu said the army has been getting full cooperation in all its endeavours in the state, particularly in the Tawang-Kameng sectors that falls under the umbrella of 4 Corps, headquartered at Tezpur.

Lt. Gen. Anbu, who took over as GOC, 4 Corps recently on November 17, informed the Chief Minister on the status of army activities in the region and sought

continuation of the support from the state government.

The brief discussion mainly centred on construction of roads in the border areas and land acquisition for army use. The Chief Minister, while congratulating the Lt Gen. on assumption of his new charge, assured all cooperation from the state government. He asked the officer to send all the proposals for land acquisition and other projects to the

Eucharistic Procession to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King in Miao

ET Bureau Aalo, 21 Nov: The Golden Jubilee Gate erected in memory of land donor of Nyorak School, Late Moken Nyorak, was inaugurated by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, amid cheer and applause to mark the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nyorak Upper Primary School on November 20 last.

(head constable in the Addressing a large gathering, IRBn) riding a Duke Rijiju exhorted the alumni and KTM. villagers to shoulder social re-

ET Bureau Diyun, 21 Nov: A student of St. Jude School, Diyun was severely injured when he was hit by a motor bike near Rajnagar village in Diyun Today. The incident occurred at around 5 PM when the victim identified Sumon Chakma (12), son of Buddha Kumar Chakma of Moitripur village was coming back from school on his bicycle and suddenly a speeding bike hit him.

The persons riding the

Rijiju inaugurates Golden Jubilee Gate at Upper Primary School Nyorak

state government and assured that all will be fasttracked. Khandu admitted the suggestion put in by the GOC for having an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in the TawangKameng sector that can accommodate fixed wing aircrafts. Despite sharing a lengthy strategic border with two neighbouring countries the sector doesn’t have a landing ground for fixed wing aircrafts. “In fact

we have been contemplating on it for some time now.

A landing ground that can accommodate fixed wing aircrafts will not only help the army but would also boost tourism in this sector,” the Chief Minister observed. He informed that plans are afoot to propose such a landing ground near Dirang in West Kameng district to which the GOC admitted that only Dirang area in the sector is feasible for

the project. Khandu said soon the state government would submit a proposal in this regard to the Government of India. Lt Gen Anbu, who was on his way back from Bumla in Tawang district, praised the natural beauty of Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that it can become one of the best high-end tourist destinations in the country. He said the government has to focus on road and air connectivity in the state besides creating tourism infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary assured the GOC that all pending issues of royalty, land acquisition, road projects, etc are under process of resolution. They too assured full cooperation from the state government with regard to all issues concerned with the army.

Farming communities conducts one day off campus training cum awareness programme

sponsibility and welfare of the school as always and assured that the government is always there to help the people.

Responding to a memorandum submitted on the occasion on various necessities, he announced Rs 40 lakhs to take up urgent and immediate needs of the school.

Rijiju also released a souvenir to mark the auspicious occasion.

He also disclosed that a size-

The conclusion of Jubilee of Mercy coinciding with the Feast of Christ the King and the last day of the liturgical calendar made the Eucharistic Procession very solemn.

There were Eucharistic processions in Christ the King Church, Khonsa in Tirap District, St. Paul’s Church, Nampong, and Sacred Heart Church Netoan in Changlang District.

People gathered for the procession with candle recited Divine Mercy chaplets and concluded it with praise and thanksgiving.

ET Bureau, Pasighat, 21 Nov: On the eve of World Fisheries Day, a one day off campus training cum awareness programme on “Use of Floating Pelleted Fish Feed for Aquaculture” was organized for progressive farmers of Ledum village, East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh by Krishi Vigyan Kendra East Siang, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agriculture University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.The objective of the training programme was to acquaint the farmers with better man-

agement practices in Fish Farming System and promote good feeding practices as well as environmentally sustainable and economically viable technology which encompass rational utilization of available resources of the farm through Integrated farming approach.

Shah M Hussain, Subject Matter Specialist Fisheries, KVK East Siang welcomed the August gathering and briefed about the purpose behind organizing the programme. He urged the participants to promote IFS

among farming community of Arunachal Pradesh for livelihood security and economic prosperity.

In continuation of the programme, emphasis was given on different aspect of integrated farming viz.

Aquaculture, off season vegetable production, different integrated models and Farm mechanization.

The Kendra also distributed 7 quintal floating fish feed and vegetable seed to the growers of the village. All together 30 progressive farmers and rural youth attend the programme.

The MoS also lauded the efforts of the people to conduct social services on self-help basis at Nyorak-Nikte road and appealed to the people to cooperate with the executing agencies to take up development activities in the area.

Tomo Bagra, the first teacher of the school and Talek Jilen, the longest serving teacher of the school were also felicitated on the occasion.

Meanwhile, inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Assembly Hall, Parliamentary Secretary Education Bamang Felix assured to look into the demands of two teachers’ quarters and

other issues in the next financial year.

He also appealed to the teachers to impart quality education and values of life within and outside class rooms as their guidance and wisdom are needed everywhere. He appealed to the people to refrain from hunting and destroying greenery to maintain balance of the nature.

Special Guest on the occasion, engineer Tumke Bagra disclosed that Rs 10 Crore under SPA made available to him will be fully utilized on NyorakNikte Road for common development and sought the cooperation of the people and sincere execution by entrusted agencies.

Kenli Nyorak, organizing president of GJCC, Goto Nyorak Mayi and Henmar Nyorak Mayi chairman GJCC submitted a memorandum and dwelt on the eventful journey of the school in its 50 glorious years of journey.

Rijiju attends post harvest festival of Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi ANI New Delhi, Nov. 21: Festivals in northeast region are marked with colourful traditional dance, costumes, cuisines and various rituals living up the olden practices and preserve the rich history and heritage.

People across the northeast region, celebrate various festivals religiously by merry making and joy.

To promote the unique culture and bring awareness on tribal traditions, youths from Arunachal Pradesh living away from home organized rich and holistic festivals of Miji and Aka tribes titled 'Chindang and Nyethriidow Festival' in New Delhi recently.

The post harvest festival was organized by Sajalong (Miji tribe) and Hrusso (Aka tribe) community students who are living in the capital city of India.

Union Home Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and MPs from the northeast region also attended the festival, which highlights a unique and rare gesture.

Moreover, their presence also

promotes the unity and brotherhood in the northeast region and India as a whole.

The festival also saw a huge number of students' from the same community living in other northern cities participates.

"Like other major tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, Aka and Miji tribes are smaller tribes and we are not so well known like other bigger tribes. That's why what we thought is, if we celebrate our festival in such big place like in Delhi, we could promote our culture, identity, tradition and our local cuisines. That's why, we are organizing this festival today, "said Ganidon Nimasow, Convener, Organizing Committee.

"Our indigenous festivals are important for members of the community. So, in whatever small possible way we must get together and just observe. We cannot have that kind of celebration we have back home.

Here, it is just a customary get together. Spirit remains the same but it's not done in a manner we want to because you can't do the original rituals but it's interesting," added Kiren

Rijiju, Union Home Minister of State for Home Affairs During the event, dance troupes from the students showcased the rich and unique traditions of Miji and Aka tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

A colourful and beautiful fashion parade was also presented depicting the transformation of their traditional attires as time transcends.

Local cuisines and brew served at the festival enhances the crowd spirit at the event.

Also, presence of a five time World Amateur Boxing Champion and Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom added glitters at the event.

"Whatever I have seen here today, the culture, traditional are almost similar and I really love and enjoy the Chindang and Nyethriidow festival. So it is a new experience for me," said Rajya Sabha MP, Mary Kom. Such event not only promotes the rich culture and traditions but also promotes communal harmony within the community and in the northeast region as a whole.

Deputy CM urges Adivasi youths to avail educational opportunity in Arunachal Contd. from Page 1

Felix Anthony Miao, 21 November: The people across Miao Diocese in eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh concluded the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy with Eucharistic Procession on Sunday.

Concluding the liturgical calendar 2016 that coincided with the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy with Pope Francis officially closing the Door Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on 20 November, the people across Miao Diocese made Eucharistic Procession with religious piety.

able amount has been placed to the DoNER Ministry to take up developmental activities in Arunachal Pradesh and further grants could not be given due to non-submission of Utilization Certificate even for the year 2013-14, while other smaller states have done it and are receiving central grants.

He lauded the community in striving to maintain cordial relationship and friendship with other tribal communities of state and appealed to avoid alcoholism for economic sustainable and better future of their family.

Mein said that youths must not only look for white collar jobs but must engage themselves in some private sectors for solving the problem of unemployment. The government has set up skill development training programmes in various places for transforming the youth from unskilled to skill so that they get full benefit of such skill development programmes.

He said that recently many govt and private colleges have come up all over the state including Poly technique College, Arunachal University of Studies in Namsai District too and called upon the youths to avail the opportunity.

While referring to the reoccurrence of flood in the area due to over flooding of Noa Dihing River, Mein assured to repair the damaged bridge, culvert and roads. He asked the line departments to

keep these works on top priority and start working on war footing to complete the repair and maintenance work

by February next.

He further said that the proposal for plugging of the river has already been submitted and is under consideration to divert river water into its mainstream and to prevent it from flooding into the township area. However, he said natural calamities are beyond the control of human being. He further said that he is committed to bring over all development of the constituency.

Responding to the memorandum submitted on the occasion, Mein assured to construct a Birsa Munda Podium and to erect his statue.

He also said to look into their demand of a cultural hall at Kumari Adivasi.

In his speech, DCM also paid tribute to the great soul on his birth anniversary and highlighted about the contribution of Great Freedom Fighter Birsa Munda and recalled his courage and efforts towards empowerment of the tribal communities.

Deputy Commissioner, R.K.Sharma while paying tribute to Birsa Munda said to

follow his ideology and work for the upliftment of society especially in the field of education.

Earlier, Mein was given a rousing reception by the Adivasi community of Lekang at Kumari Adivasi, Namsai District on his arrival to grace the occasion.

The birth anniversary of Birsa Munda was held in a befitting manner. It was organised by All Adivasi Student Association of Arunachal Pradesh (AASAAP) and Adivasi Kalyan Sangha (AKS).

The programme commenced with lighting of lamps and laying of floral tributes to the great leader by the dignitaries. Colourful Cultural programme presented by the Adivasi Folk dance enthralled the crowd.

Soneswar Minj, President Celebration Committee enlightened the gathering on the life history of Birsa Munda.

General Secretary AASAAP, Fabian Tamba, Former General Secretary AKS Ajit Lohar and Chairman of the meeting Bisnath Indwane also spoke on the occasion.

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Morigaon District has the highest number of Child Marriages in the state ET Bureau Guwahati, 21 Nov: According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) for 2015-2016, at least 32.6% of married women aged between 20 and 24 in the state had been married off before they turned 18. Minors constitute around 41% of Assam's population.

Morigaon district earned the dubious distinction of having the highest number of child marriages in the state last year. It was followed by Dhubri, Barpeta,

Nagaon and Bongaigaon districts (in that order).

"Around 13.6% of adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 were pregnant in, or had already given birth by, 2015-2016," the NFHS report added.

Runumi Gogoi, chairperson of the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), admitted the scale of the problem and said, "Child marriage is a common trend in the minority-dominated and tea belt areas of the state. Pro-

tection of child rights in Assam continues to be a distant dream."

Non-implementation of the Right to Education Act in most tea gardens was a major reason behind the worrying trend, said experts who took part in a discussion on child rights organized by the ASCPCR and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Sunday, which was observed as Universal Children's Day. Childline's Guwahati unit, too, organized a series of street plays

and awareness programmes on child rights on Sunday.

The organization, which has been rescuing children in distress for years now, called for child-friendly government schemes and proper rehabilitation of those rescued.

Nirmal Deka, coordinator of Childline Guwahati, said, "Without proper rehabilitation, children who are rescued from traffickers or rights violators continue to remain vulnerable." (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Army Chief in China with a special plan on border problem Agencies Beijing, 21 Nov: Indian army chief, Dalbir Singh Suhag met high-ranking officials of China's People's Liberation Army including Gen. Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, the highest military body under President Xi Jinping, on the first day of his four-day tour of China on Monday.

Both officials "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defense exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful," the Indian Embassy in Beijing said in a statement. Singh invited Xu to visit India, which was accepted. Earlier, Singh was welcomed with a guard of honor led by General Li Zuocheng, Commander PLA Army.

Observers said Singh may have a strategic plan to discuss with China about terror attacks from across the Pakistan border and use of irregulars and nonstate player by the Pakistani military, observers said. It is important for India to ensure that Chinese support for Pakistan in this crucial area is weakened, they said. The visit comes amid disturbances in India's border with Pakistan and China, and reports that China is speeding up construction of a road, which will pass through the disputed Pakistan Occupied Kashmir area. New Delhi has serious objection to any con-

struction work by China in POK, as it is claimed by India.

Singh is due to visit to major military commands in Xian and Nanjing and see the installations connected to PLA's Infantry Division and Army Air Defence Brigades in these areas.

His visit also coincides with a joint military exercise (Exercise Hand in Hand), between two armies which is underway in Pune and will be followed by the visit of General Zhao Zongqi, Commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA in the second week of next month.

"This visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations," a statement by the Indian Army said. Discussions during the visit will cover subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping training, it said.

Meanwhile, a Chinese expert provided some glimpse into China's attitude towards terror attacks from the Pakistani side in the Indian border areas.

The expert, Long Xingchun, a research fellow at the Charhar Institute and director of the Center for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, discussed the

case of Masood Azhar, whom India wants to be listed as a terrorist by the United Nations. Indian effort in this area has been repeatedly frustrated by China.

"India has applied many times to include Masood Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammed's founder and leader, into the sanction list of the UN Security Council. In every international occasion such as the G20 summit and the BRICS summit, Modi speaks about anti-terrorism and Pakistan. He labels Pakistan as a supporter of terrorism and tarnishes Pakistan's international image," Long said while adding, "Isolating Pakistan will have limited effects. Modi refused to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting scheduled in Islamabad in November and called for the other SAARC leaders not to attend".

He also warned of separatist movements in India as a result of chaos in Pakistan.

"A chaotic Pakistan will become a hotbed for extremism, which India will find more difficult to tackle. It may even incite separatism within India, especially in states and northeastern regions where Muslims make up the majority," Long said in an article published by Global Times online edition today.

He also reprimanded Pa-

kistan for adopting wrong policies. "The Pakistani government, military and other groups should realize that armed struggles and terror attacks will not change the chaotic situation of Kashmir, and will leave people in desperation".

"The Pakistani government has weak control over the country. Not only can't it control its intelligence organizations, military and local governments, the government has no capability to manage its tribes, religious groups and terrorist forces," said Long Xingchun, a research fellow at the Charhar Institute and director of the Center for Indian Studies at China West Normal University.

Writing in the Global Times newspaper, Long even suggested that India should not put pressure on the Pakistani government.

He advised "compromise" but did not indicate what kind of compromise he was asking for.

"It is unfair to attribute the attacks on India to the Pakistani government, because the government would like to solve the discrepancies with India through dialogue. Pressing the Pakistani government only puts pressure on the moderate forces within Pakistan and fosters hawkish sentiment toward India".

CM Sonowal to Banks: facilitate hassle-free disbursal of payment of tea garden workers Contd. from Page 1

The Chief Minister also took stock of the presence of Banking institutions in tea garden areas of the state and directed the Bank authorities to open sufficient nos. of Bank ATMs so that the account holders can transact money locally in a hassle-free manner.

Reiterating that financial literacy amongst tea garden workers is a need of the hour, Chief Minister Sonowal urged the Bankers to expedite such literacy programmes in a more intensive manner. He further stated that ACMS has great inroad into the tea community and it must play a proactive role in educating the garden workers for availing the new mode of

financial system.

The Chief Minister further appreciated the active role played by the Banks in tiding over the crisis, especially the issue concerning timely payment of wages of tea garden workers which emerged out of demonetization of Rs. 500 and 1000 currencies.

He said that the “Team Assam” spirit exhibited by the Banks need to be replicated again in putting this new mechanism in place for heralding cashless economy in the state.

The Banking authority also highly lauded the State Government’s proactive role and novel measures adopted in the state for disbursing wages to tea garden workers in the wake of demonetization. “The Assam Model has

received nation-wide attention and all the tea garden intensive states are emulating the same in letter and spirit” commented SBI Chief General Manager PVSNL Murty.

Acknowledging the Chief Minister’s directions and concerns, the Banking authorities have unanimously agreed to complete opening of Bank accounts of left out tea garden workers within December 5, 2016 to ensure disbursal of wages through such accounts from December 15, 2016 onwards. It was also decided that all banks would open ATMs in Tea Gardens where there is sizable population. Banks would also introduce lobby ATMs through Customer Service Providers (CSP) and Banking

GOVERNOR IN SIVASAGAR

Correspondents (BC) and space for such ATMs will be provided by respective tea gardens.

Meanwhile to explore possibilities for engaging tea garden management as CSP and BC, consultations will be held between Banks and TE management shortly to settle the matter.

The Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, Additional Chief Secretary KV Eapen, Commissioner & Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia, Commissioner & Secretary (Finance) Ravi Kota, Regional Manager, Reserve Bank of India, NE Region, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India and representatives of other banks as well as Tea Associations were present in the meeting.

Governor Of Assam, Banuwarilal Puruhit Visited Historical Siva Temple Of Sivasagar today to pray before heading for Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. Photo by Firuz Ahmed

Assembly team expresses grave concern over poor standard of Tea-Garden workers Shambhu Boro, Tezpur, 21 Nov: In order to study and draw findings about the standard of out the quality of life and working conditions of labourers, a team Assembly Advisory Committee comprising MLAs of different constituencies including Suman Haripriya, Narayan Deka, Gurujyoti Das, Bhabesh Kalita, Majendra Nazary, Kamal Nazary, Nijanur Rahman and Nazrul Haque under the chairmanship of Mazendra Narzary and guided by local MLA of 72 No-Dhekiajuli Legislative Constituency, Ashok Kumar Singhal today visited the tea garden areas falling under the Assembly Constituency segment. It is worth mentioning that of the agriculture based industries, tea plantation occupies an important place in Dhekiajuli.

However, in Dhekiajuli area there are over 20 tea gardens including Tulip Tea Estate, Arun Tea Estate, Belsiri Tea Estate, Dhirai Tea Estate, Dhekiajuli Tea Estate, Monabag Tea Estate', Dibru Darrang Tea

Estate, Hoograjuli Tea Estate, Dhirajuli Tea Estate, Narayanpur Tea Estate, Sopai Tea Estate, MonMohonipur Tea Estate, Singri Tea Estate, Panbari Tea Estate, Samaguri Tea Estate, Tinekharia Tea Estate, Charduar Tea Estate, Dikorai Tea Estate, Ghiladhari Tea, Estate, Tupia Tea Estate, and Tejal Patty Tea Estate. The team found that most the tea workers are devoid of basic amenities like pure drinking water facility, road communication, health and sanitation, electricity facility, education. No wonder, A combination of dismal living conditions and low wages has kept tea workers and their families malnourished and in poor health.

The team accompanied by a handful of media persons and local social workers visited the most of the mentioned TE Estates and interacted with the people and various organizations representing the tea community people like AASAA, AATSA. he team also received memorandum from

the Tea Community organizations that highlighted their problems and committed to address the same.

During their visit the team witnessed the poor condition of various labour lines where modern education system and a hygiene life is still a dream. Meanwhile, after visiting tea garden areas expressing grave concern over the long pending issue of the tea garden people living various tea gardens in the region, local MLA Ashok Kumar Singhal said that though the tea companies are fulfilling their own interest since India’s independence, they are yet to honour those people because of whom they have been surviving.

“It is very unfortunate that the tea companies always show a false picture of loss of their business to exploit the labourers. If it is so then how are they surviving in their business?” He questioned adding that their appeal is that the tea companies should be honest and transparent in dealing with the laborers who are the

back bone of their business.

If they are not healthy, their business is not healthy.

Meanwhile, expressing their satisfaction, getting the leaders at their door step the people of the tea garden areas said that earlier it was seen that after the passage of the election no any public leader visited in their area to understand their issues.

“But this time we are delighted that our leaders as per their pre-poll commitment are visiting our areas and we are hopeful enough that our grievance will be addressed adequately.” The labourers said. Moreover, the Assembly Advisory Committee, Chairman, Mazendra Narzary said before the media persons that the memorandum produced by different organizations revealing grievances of the tea garden people will be discussed in the Assembly and a way will paved for the solution to the long pending issue. “Our next target is to visit the tea garden areas of Barak valley.” He mentioned

Tezpur University makes Muga GI a reality for stakeholders Shambhu Boro, Tezpur, 21 Nov: With its continued efforts during the last two years, Tezpur University in collaboration with Dibrugarh University conducted their second MUGA Camp in Dhokuakhana in May 2016 which has resulted in the filing of 149 additional authorised Geographical Indications (GI) users applications of grass root Muga stakeholders in Assam. These applications have been published in the Geographical Indications Journal No. 90 on November 17 last.

Muga Silk was granted the GI status in 2007and was granted its GI logo in 2014.

As per the Indian GI Act, only authorised users are allowed to mark their products with the GI logo and also call their product as MUGA. Unfortunately till 2014 there were insignificant numbers of authorised users of Muga GI in Assam.

Tezpur University initiated a long term programme to facilitate the process of registering authorised users of MUGA GI to a series of ground level steps that culminated into the first MUGA GI camp in 2015 in North Lakhimpur which successfully resulted in the registration of 92 grassroots MUGA stakeholders as authorised users of MUGA GI. These efforts have fruc-

tified in the registration of about 250 authorised users thereby setting a new record of being the highest number of authorised users for any single GI in India. The Tezpur University Intellectual Property Rights (TUIPR) Cell took up the task of sensitizing the stakeholders about the benefits of securing Muga GI and encouraging them to complete the application process since 2014. With increased number of authorised users of the MUGA GI, it is imperative that an inspection body be set up and equipped with the equipment and methods to identify genuine MUGA from adulterated

MUGA so that the stakeholders of genuine MUGA products are able to mark their products with MUGA GI logo and get a premium for their products. The two universities are now focusing to make this a thrust area of this project.The task undertaken and executed by TUIPR Cell and Dibrugarh University are examples of the institutional social responsibility (ISR) of academic institutions in their efforts to attain academic excellence, at the same time, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region, especially based on traditional skills and cultural values.

Arunachal CM launches 'Jeevan Pramaan' sensitisation prog. ; scheme to ease with digitizing process Contd. from Page 1

Incidentally, the number of state government pensioners at present is about 26000 and only about 5000 still reside in Arunachal Pradesh.

Pensioners avail their respective pension amounts either from the treasury offices or banks. In case of availing pension amounts from treasury offices, pensioners had to present themselves before the concerned treasury officers in person once every month

while in case of banks it was once every year in the month of November. “This is one of the most benevolent and human initiative ever taken. I am aware of the difficulties faced by our pensioners in getting their due after serving a lifetime for the state. I appeal all to enrol themselves and get their digital life certificates so that their monthly pensions are deposited in their accounts on time without hassles,” Khandu appealed.

He urged the departments

of Audit & Pension, Information Technology & Communication and NIC to coordinate and create awareness about the initiative so that all state government pensioners avail this benefit.The Chief Minister suggested that to begin with all district administrations must be made aware of it and provide means to register pensioners of their respective districts. To mark the launch of the sensitization campaign, digital certifications were done on the spot for two

of the state government pensioners present. Rajat Bhattacharjee and K P Chakraborty, retired state government employees, were authenticated online and given their digital life certificates.

While handing over the digital life certificates, the Chief Minister appealed both and other pensioners present to spread the word among their former colleagues and pensioners so that more and more can avail the benefits of the initiative.

NORTHEAST

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Non co-operation of banks abort central scheme for self-employment Agartala, Nov 21: Wilful non co-operation of the nationalised banks is aborting an attractive scheme designated as 'Stnad-up India' by the central government for self-employment of unemployed youths. The scheme, launched on April 16 this year, targets unemployed youths belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and women who are required to submit a viable and detailed self-employment scheme . The banks were entrusted with the responsibility for sanctioning loans of Rs 10 lakh-Rs 1crore on the scheme, if found viable, without any

it is difficult to even speak to bank officials on loan matters who cite preoccupation with other urgent works . Moreover, the banks employees never upload the details of schemes and procedure for deriving benefit from it with other detials like loans drawn by customers and the schedule of recovery on their websites which is mandatory. guarantee.

According to findings of the state level bankers committee (SLBC) meeting held on September 20 this year , only 17 targeted youths from SC, ST and Women

had been sanctioned RS 3.01 crores on the basis of specific schemes , found to be viable, though many applications had been filed.

The minutes of the SLBC meeting noted that the bank branches had been in-

structed to expedite loan sacntions on viable schemes and fulfill the quota.

But many youths who have failed to secure the loans despite having submitted viable schemes,alleged that

India-Bangladesh meeting over disputed enclave in Tripura inconclusive Agartala, Nov 21: A meeting between Indian and Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka to resolve the dispute over southern Tripura's Muhurichar -- the lone enclave whose fate is yet unresolved between the two neighbours -- ended inconclusively, officials said here on Sunday.

"The meeting in Dhaka to resolve the dispute over Muhurichar enclave remained inconclusive. The officials of the two countries would submit reports to their respective governments to decide the further course of action," a top official of Tripura's Revenue Department told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

"Indian officials told their Bangladeshi counterparts that according to the IndiraMujib accord, the boundary should be the mid-course of the Muhuri river. The Bangladesh officials objected to this logic, saying the course of the river has changed many times during the past 44 years," said the official.

The Indira-Mujib agreement was signed on March 19, 1972 between the then Indian and Bangladeshi Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to determine various issues of the two countries, including 1971 as the cut-off year to identify the

MTC Wka educational trip Dimapur, Nov 21: Mount Tiyi College (MTC), Wokha organised an educational trip on November 19, for the sixth semester students' under the theme "Save Amur Falcons".

The students' along with the principal and faculty members of the college visited the roosting place of the Amur Falcons to better understand the behaviour and ecology of the famous bird.

They also got to learn from the guides on how they could become conservationists so as to protect the Amur Falcons against hunters. The team also visited the Doyang hydro project dam, wherein they were highlighted by the engineers on the process of electricity generation.

The educational trip enlightened and enhanced the students' appreciation of the environment and the need to support conservation efforts. (Agencies)

Bangladeshi infiltrators and refugees to India.

The official said the sevenmember Indian delegation was led by External Affairs Ministry's Joint Secretary, Border Management, Sripriya Ranganathan, while the 12-member Bangladesh side was headed by its Home Ministry's Additional Secretary (Political) Abu Hena Mohammad Rahamatul Muneem.

Officials from both sides jointly visited the disputed enclave on Thursday and after that, held a meeting at Majumder Haat in Bangladesh, opposite southern Tripura's sub-divisional town Belonia.

The final meeting was held in Dhaka on Friday.

The Tripura official, who was a part of the Indian delegation, said that after the fixing of the boundary along Muhurichar enclave, both countries would construct embankments to protect the respective bordering towns, villages and other important installations.

"Ranganathan held a meeting with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar here on Wednesday and discussed the Muhurichar enclave," the official said but refused to divulge anything about the discussions at the meet-

ing.

On the background of the issue, Tripura's Revenue, PWD and Health Minister Badal Choudhury told IANS that "decades before creation of Bangladesh in 1971, around 60 Indian farmers have been cultivating in the 63-acre Muhurichar enclave area".

"The India-Bangladesh Joint Boundary Working Group meeting held in Dhaka last year had decided that the two countries would once again conduct joint survey in the 63-acre Muhurichar area to resolve the deadlock," he added.

As part of the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 and its 2011 Protocol, India gave away to Bangladesh 110 of the 111 enclaves and received 51 enclaves on July 31 midnight last year, but the talks over Muhurichar had remained inconclusive.

"There is no problem over other enclaves, including northern Tripura's Chandannagar. But as the Survey of India, along with its Bangladeshi counterpart, unilaterally demarcated Muhurichar enclave without any consultation and contact with the Tripura government, the enclave has remained undecided so far," said Choudhury, who hails from the Belonia sub-divi-

sion under which the Muhurichar enclave falls.

"Of the 63-acre Muhurichar area, we have no objection in giving some portion of land to Bangladesh after ensuring a perfect demarcation of the areas. There are three separate cremation grounds of three religious communities in the Muhurichar area for several decades.

"The real tussle between India and the then East Pakistan over Muhurichar area started since early 1965. For many years, soldiers of the then East Pakistan and subsequently Border Guard Bangladesh occasionally fired at the Indian side, killing and injuring many," he added.

Border guards of both the countries have even engaged in many skirmishes since 1978 over Muhurichar enclave.

According to South Tripura district officials, a proposal has been submitted to the Union government to provide compensation to the affected Indian farmers in the area.

Since the Partition of India in 1947, the Muhuri River along Muhurichar was considered a natural boundary with then East Pakistan.

(Agencies)

Cabinet decision on 33% women quota invalid: CNTC Dimapur, Nov 21: Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has also joined various tribal hohos and massbased civil societies to oppose 33 % women reservation in the election to urban local bodies (ULBs), stating that the implementation of women's reservations was in violation of the Naga customary law and rights enshrined in the Article 371 A. In a press statement CNTC media call, also demanded that the state government to roll back its decision to implement 33% women reservation seats in the civic polls.

It argued that women were doing better than their male counterpart in many fields and sphere but once reservation policy is implemented in the state, the special protection accorded to the people of Nagaland under Article 371 A would be diluted.

Further media cell, said that the issue needed wider, proper and lengthier deliberations otherwise the tribal customary laws and practices that were "welded" to Article 371A would be trampled.

It also said that state cabinet's decision 2016 to implement 33% women reservation in the election to urban local bodies was invalid, since the Assembly resolution of 2012 cannot be superseded by a

cabinet decision.

The Central Nagaland Tribes Council said that despite knowing the legal impediments that surrounds the issue, the state government's eagerness to implement the 33% women reservation in the ULB was a clear indication of the "hypocrisy and autocratic policy of our politicians".

The council reiterated that it would continue to oppose the move, since government was trying to appease "some small section of the people in the guise of gender equality".

On Lotha Hoho PIL on oil issue, CNTC asked the state government to redraft the ground modalities and procedures on the Oil and Natural Gas drilling rights.

It affirmed that no governmental or non-governmental body have the right to impose any policy which was against the will and wishes of the people, as Nagas of Nagaland have been bestowed with the Article 371A of the Indian constitution.

Rather, it demanded that any activities executed by the government should be beneficial to the Lotha people (genuine landowners) and people of Nagaland state and not to some vested individuals. Therefore, it demanded that the state government to

reset the terms and conditions at the earliest possible time which will be beneficial to the Lothas in particular and Nagas of Nagaland in general.

CNTC also wanted to know on the steps taken by the government on the Rongmei tribe recognition issue. The council questioned on the silence of the cabinet sub-committee, even after a lapse of nearly two months the committee was appointed.

CNTC therefore, reminded the state government to stop the habit of taking the sentiment of the people for granted which will turn bitter and never yield positive results in the end.

On the construction of foothill road, the CNTC urged the chief minister and the responsible minister to uphold their assurance to compete the foothill road by January 2017.

Since, the road, which is the survival road for the people of Mon,Longleng, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha has become a great necessity not only for socio-economic development for the region but for safety and security reasons, the CNTC urged upon the state government to take up the issue in the right earnest without delay. (Agencies)

'They cite many other excuses to sit over the loan application for inordinately long and it is only when there is political intervention that matters are slightly expedited ; even when loans

are actually sanctioned the bank officials hardly ever visit the project or scheme sites and thus themselves fail to create an urgency in the customer or loanee to refund the loans' said a frustrated loan applicant Subhash Shikdar. He added that neither the nationalised banks nor the state government shows any interest in popularising the schemes and creating public pressures on banks to do their assigned jobs. 'Unless there is agitation and pressure on banks they will continue to go their own sweet ways at the cost of people' said Subhash. (Agencies)

Dr Bikash Roy to donate Rs 25 thousand to NGO for child welfare

Tripura's renowned paediatrician Dr Bikash Roy.

Agartala, Nov 21: Tripura's renowned paediatrician Dr Bikash Roy who was conferred a prestigious national award in Delhi on the national childrens day on November 14 has decided to donate Rs 25 thousand-part of the cash reward Rs.1 Lakh given by the government of India- to 'Matrichhaya', a reputed NGO working for children with dedi-

cation in the state. While addressing a seminar on childrens welfare held in the government-run 'Muktadhara' auditorium at Agartala Dr Roy made the announcement that he would donate a cheque of Rs 25 thousand to the 'Matrichhaya' NGO working for the welfare of children. Dr Roy's decision was hailed by all other speakers including former high court justice A.B.Paul and also the audience. He was also felicitated by the NGO in the programme.The minister for social welfare Bijit Nath also attended the programme and appreciated the good work being carried out by 'Matrichhaya' for child welfare, describing this as 'exemplary'.

Veteran intellectual Agni Kumar Acharjee also attended the programme and delivered a stirring speech. (Agencies)

Nagaland Govt. apathy throws Power deptt into crisis Dimapur, Nov 21: In view of the government's unresponsive attitude, the Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) has again warned that if urgent please through two letters for lifting restrictions imposed on procurement of materials are not lifted, then they should not be held responsible for a worst case scenario in power crisis in the coming weeks.

Engineers of the department had time and again warned the government that the system was on the verge of total collapse due to overload, old transformers of low capacity and lack of spare parts for repair or replacement due to unpaid bills to suppliers.

Dimapur was almost about to face a near shutdown due to collapse of the system but fortunately, power usage has been greatly reduced

because air conditioners are no longer used after the arrival of winter season.

However, the same cannot be said of Kohima where the consumption of power is expected to spiral upwards due to use of electric heaters. As the system in Kohima is also on the verge of collapse, engineers have expressed serious concern at such an eventuality.

The setback for the DoP comes from the non-release of funds from the government for procurement of items from the market which are urgently required to keep the system going.

The demand made by the DoP was around Rs.17.62 crore but the state government has done nothing. It was also learnt, that the DoP was burdened with a liability to the tune of Rs. 23.33 crore on account of works carried out in response to

CPI (M) expels DYFI leader for moral turpitude Agartala, Nov 21: In a determined mote to cleanse the party of undesirable elements involved in immoral activities, the CPI (M) state committee yesterday expelled DYFI leader Biplab Roy from the party. He was a member of CPI (M) local committee in Pratapgarh and head of a number of front organisations under the party.

Biplab Roy who originally belongedo a very impoverished family started minting money after joining the party,rising in the leadership structure but along with il-

legitimate financial gains Biplab also developed moral debauchery . Sources in the CPI (M) said that he had been censured several times and asked to rectify his conduct but he remained incorrigible. Finally upon recommendations of the divisional committee which had received a large number of complaints against him, the CPI (M)'s state committee yesterday expelled Biplab Roy to rid the party of toxic elements .

This has been notified in the state CPI (M)'s party organ 'Daily Desher Katha' also.

(Agencies)

various breakdown maintenance on exigency during the past few years.

The state government is unwilling and not prepared to allocate even this much amount.

Though the 14th Finance Commission had awarded a huge 10% step up for the state, yet there has been no impact on allocation for the DoP. According to sources, after the Planning Commission was disbanded and in its place NITI Aayog constituted; the funding was given directly to the state chief minister to decide on how best to decide on projects to be funded.

It was revealed, that under Plan, the state earmarked hardly around Rs.400 crore and divided it with the number of departments for allocation of funds. This formula has deprived a major

An SBI official in Shillong has admitted that there is shortage of Rs 100 notes in the State and urged people not to hoard the smaller denomination.

"We are in desperate need of Rs 100. RBI has assured that Rs 100 notes will be sent shortly. The problem will ease once the Rs 100 notes come to the market," the official told The Shillong Times.

Concerned over the hoarding of Rs 100 notes, the official said the money should be allowed to circulate. "People are hoarding Rs 100 notes as

some are not accepting Rs 2,000. However, the situation is now normalised and different from the situations as witnessed from the rush and the long queues on November 9, 10. The situation now is a little normal in Shillong," the official said.

In Nongstoin, the situation is far from normal as long queues outside banks continue as the four ATM machines - of HDFC Bank, SBI, Canara Bank and Meghalaya Co-operative Apex Bank remain out of cash most of the time.

The Canara Bank ATM is closed since the government started issuing Rs 2,000 notes.

Many hassled people in Nongstoin complained that while ATMs in Shillong are loaded with Rs 100 those in Nongstoin only have Rs 2,000. "The machines were not loaded with Rs 100 notes

In the past several years, it was almost a regular feature of the department to announce loss amounting to around of over Rs.100 crore annually which was blamed on supposed theft and pilferage. The accumulated total loss from all these has been pegged at around 55% to 60% which is equivalent to 30MW to 40MW out of the total power that the state receives. (Agencies)

KHADC, JHADC by-poll preparations pick up pace Shillong, Nov 21: With the filing of nomination starting on Monday, electioneering for the KHADC and the JHADC council seats is set to gain momentum.

The model code of conduct for the December 13 by-poll will take effect from the same day, as informed earlier by DCA Minister Prestone Tynsong.

Altogether 232 polling stations will be installed for bypolls to the six KHADC seats and 18 for one JHADC seat.

The by-poll was necessitated after seven MLAs resigned from the post of MDC in the two District Councils last year following the passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, which seeks to end holding

Hoarding leads to shortage Shillong/Nongstoin, Nov 21: The plight of the people in the city as well as in other parts of the State continues even two weeks after the Centre scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 as shortage of Rs 100 denomination notes and non-functional ATMs remain the order of the day.

revenue earning and crucial department such as Power from getting its due share and instead, has been allotted the same amount as funds given to minor departments.

Not only being deprived of much needed funds to keep the system going, even if it meant living on the edge, the department's efforts to reduce revenue loss has also taken a beating.

as the banks did not bother the difficulties face by the public," S. Nongkynrih said while standing in a long queue.

Pristar Marbaniang, a college student, said he found the ATMs out of cash even after visiting them at different hours of the day. "I have to attend the class and also do other work. I stood in the queue on Friday but had to leave for my class. I again came in the morning but could not get the money. I checked different ATMs but cash was not available. This is the fourth time I am in the queue just to get Rs 500 for buying vegetables," he said.

The SBI official in Shillong said once Rs 100 notes arrive, the situation will be normal.

On asking about the Rs 500 notes, the official said that it not known as to when the denomination will be circulated as it is the prerogative of the central government.

(Agencies)

of dual posts by the MLAs. 1,46,544 and 6,739 voters in the KHADC and the JHADC, respectively, will decide the fate of the seven candidates.

The six vacant constituencies under the KHADC include Nongkrem, LabanMawprem, NongspungSohiong, MairangNongkhlaw, PariongMawthadraishan and Rambrai-Jyrngam constituencies. The single vacant seat in the JHADC is WarEast constituency.

Following Governor V. Shanmuganathan's nod to the by-election schedule as fixed by the State government, the publication of draft electoral rolls has been fixed for October 10 and the election will be held on December 13. Counting is on December 16. (Agencies)

NPP chief turns down BJP rejig demand Shillong, Nov 21: With BJP demanding reshuffle in the executive committee of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) following the alleged Rs 100crore scam, the NPP president Conrad Sangma has said it is not easy for the party to accommodate other members.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, Sangma appreciated the BJP for questioning the alleged misuse of over Rs 100 crore of central funds and said it was a healthy trend in democracy to question.

Asserting that the present executive committee led by NPP in GHADC has followed all guidelines of the Niti Aayog while using the fund, Sangma said there was no scope for any embezzlement.

Sangma admitted there were talks about reshuffling in the EC, but said they did not have the numbers to accommodate MDCs. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Today's quote

“

Don't walk in front of me… I may not follow Don't walk behind me… I may not lead Walk beside me… just be my friend,

Albert Camus

Getting real on climate The UN conference on climate change held in Marrakech, with an emphasis on raising the commitment of all countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is particularly significant as it provided an opportunity to communicate concerns about the future climate policy of the U.S. It would be untenable for the U.S., with a quarter of all cumulative fossil fuel emissions, to renege on its promise to assist vulnerable and developing nations with climate funding, technology transfer and capacity-building under Donald Trump's presidency. As the Marrakech Action Proclamation issued at the close of the conference emphasises, the world needs all countries to work together to close the gap between their intended reduction of carbon emissions and what needs to be done to keep the rise of the global average temperature well below 2°C in this century. The Paris Agreement on climate change was forged on the consensus that man-made climate change does have a scientific basis, that the developed countries are responsible for accumulated emissions, and that future action should focus on shifting all nations to a clean energy path. Not much progress was made at Marrakech on raising the $100 billion a year that is intended to help the poorer nations. Political commitment and resource mobilisation will be crucial to meet targets for mitigation of emissions and adaptation.

India is in a particularly difficult situation as it has the twin challenges of growing its economy to meet the development aspirations of a large population, and cutting emissions. National GHG levels are small per capita, but when added up they put India in the third place, going by data from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center in the U.S. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which has provisions to monitor emissions and raise targets based on a review, pressure on India to effect big cuts is bound to increase. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will hear from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2018 on what impact an additional warming of 1.5°C could have on the planet and what can be done to ensure it is pegged at this level. The pledges made so far are well short of this target, and even if they are all implemented, a minimum rise of 2.9°C is forecast by the UN Environment Programme. India has no historical responsibility for accumulated GHGs, but smaller, more vulnerable countries such as island states and Bangladesh are demanding action to cut emissions. A strategy that involves all State governments will strengthen the case for international funding, and spur domestic action.

After the storm W

hen 86 per cent of currency notes in a country of 1.3 billion people are rendered illegal tender in a matter of hours, it is bound to create a short-term disruption in daily lives. Particularly so, since much of India's economic activity still takes place in the informal sector with no cheque payments, resulting not just in widespread direct and indirect tax evasion but also an inability to assess the true state of the economy. For instance, while farmers' income is not taxed, most of them now have a Kisan Credit Card, first launched in 1998, and no-frills bank accounts whose creation has been scaled up by the present government. But the agricultural economy is still controlled by middlemen and traders who only make cash payments to farmers while reaping a profit from the difference in prices from farm-gate to fork. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax will make it tougher for such intermediaries to remain below the tax radar, though foodgrains will be zero-rated under the tax regime. Just as paying taxes on their profits is uncharted territory for such traders, the government too is navigating uncharted waters with the demonetisation drive, necessitating adjustments on the go.

Rural Indians, like their urban peers, may be in a tizzy for now over the currency swoop and face challenges in transactions, but there doesn't seem to be a threat to the rabi crop as the Opposition has sought to suggest. By last Friday, the total area sown was significantly higher than at the same time last year, except for coarse cereals. The latest relaxation, allowing farmers to withdraw Rs.25,000 a week, should assuage any concerns on this front. However, the Reserve Bank of India and the Central government were clearly not prepared for the cash crunch in bank vaults and post offices, that has become evident a week after the demonetisation. So, even soiled Rs.100 notes have been brought back into circulation to tide over the scarcity. Given our abysmal public health infrastructure, a thought should also have been spared for people's healthcare costs.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet had cleared measures to push non-cash payments in February, but little has been implemented - using credit cards still involves high transaction charges, for example. Tweaking the exchange limit for old notes from Rs.4,000 to Rs.4,500 and then down to Rs.2,000 has created confusion, often leading to ugly scenes at banks.

Afterthoughts may be inevitable in emergency situations, but the government also needs to address popular anxieties by constantly, and publicly, updating its road map.

ong mentally?

EDITORIAL P6 Time to move towards a new litigation policy Government litigation reportedly constitutes nearly half of all litigation in the Indian judiciary.

Ameen Jauhar On the occasion of the Delhi High Court's golden jubilee in October, the Prime Minister broached the problem of excessive government litigation. The Supreme Court, since the 1970s, has berated successive governments for being callous and mechanical in pursuing litigation. The Law Commission of India also studied this problem in its 126th Report in 1988, and made appropriate observations on this front. Besides being a constraint on the public exchequer, government litigation has contributed to judicial backlog, thus affecting justice delivery in India.

Government litigation reportedly constitutes nearly half of all litigation in the Indian judiciary. However, there are no government sources to confirm the actual quantum of its litigation. The absence of this statistic itself is an indicator of how 'interested' various governments have been in attempting to understand this problem or tackling it meaningfully.

National Litigation Policy, 2010 It would be incorrect to say that no attempts to tackle government litigation have been made. The Law Minister in the United Progressive Alliance government had launched a "National Litigation Policy" (NLP) in 2010 to

transform the government into a "responsible and efficient" litigant. This concept of a national litigation policy has been explored by other countries as well.

The Australian Taxation Office, for example, conducts its litigation in accordance with the PS LA 2009/9 Conduct of Tax Office Litigation, which is an elaborate set of guidelines obligating the government to be a model litigant.

But the NLP has failed as an initiative due to ambiguity. The NLP 2010 is replete with rhetoric and generic phraseology which has no scope for implementation. Instead of being an analytical policy document attempting to address the causes of excessive government litigation, it appears to have been drafted on anecdotal notions of the problem, with no measurable outcomes or implementation mechanism.

The NLP 2010 fails to provide a yardstick for determining responsibility and efficiency. The policy then idealistically states that there should be greater accountability regarding governmental litigation, and mandates "suitable action" against officials violating this policy. However, the text does not define this "suitable action", or prescribe any method to conduct any disciplinary proceedings. The NLP 2010 also creates "Empowered

Committees" at the national and regional levels, apparently to regulate the implementation of the policy. But there is ambiguity about their role and powers, resulting in lack of transparency in their functioning. While these committees are intended to be integral to the accountability mechanisms under the policy, the ambiguity in their roles and functions make them susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

The NLP 2010 also lacks any form of impact assessment to evaluate actual impact on reducing government litigation. This absence of a monitoring mechanism is evident from the fact that there is no data available even today to accurately verify the extent of government litigation in India. Without such evaluation, this litigation policy remains a theoretical, ambiguous and fairly inadequate docu-

ment on the pretext of policy reform.

The way forward In 2015, after the National Democratic Alliance came to power, there was a discussion to review the NLP. This is yet to culminate in a revised NLP. While the Prime Minister's recent comments may be some indicator of greater political will to deal with the problem, government response to the problem

needs to be much more dynamic and resourceful.

Worryingly, for example, like 2009, no proper detailed study of the amount or nature of governmental litigation in India appears to have been conducted. The present exercise of revising the NLP therefore appears to be again on preconceived and baseless notions of the problem.

The Prime Minister himself acknowledged that the bureaucracy was not sufficiently motivated to tackle the issue. But a disinterested bureaucracy is hardly an excuse for not acting on a pressing issue.

Finally, the ongoing revision of the NLP needs to ensure certain critical features are not missed out: first, it must have clear objectives that can be assessed; second, the role of different functionaries must be enumerated; third, the minimum standards for pursuing litigation must be listed out; fourth, fair accountability mechanisms must be established; fifth, the consequences for violation of the policy must be provided; and sixth, a periodic impact assessment programme must be factored in. A litigation policy can have a profound effect on how the government thinks about itself as a litigant, and can help curb the problem, provided it is a constructed with a thorough understanding of the problem and offers solutions based on evidence rather than conjecture.

A pivot to China?

India should seek to 'redefine' OBOR, adding a stronger component for a 'Digital Sustainable Asia'.

Mukul Sanwal Till 1750, the Asian giants produced half of global economic output before gunboats and colonisation reshaped trade, and subsequently production and consumption. There is now a consensus that the locus of global wealth is again going to be in Asia.

The implication of the interruption, or reversal, has not been explored as the strategic dimensions continue to be seen through a Western prism.

Western analysts focus on the relative decline of the U.S. rather than on Asia's re-emergence. The underlying assumption is that the world needs global institutions, rules and agreements to solve problems that countries cannot solve on their own, while not addressing the question that has now come centre stage - who sets the worlds standards and for what purpose?

Containment, relevant during the Cold War, is not proving effective in Asia with China emerging as the largest global economy. Alliances are also losing relevance in

Asia as countries are gaining influence more because of the strength of their economy than the might of the military.

Moving away from global rules, for example the climate agreement, questions their relevance for meeting global concerns.

Globalisation, driven by the 'Washington Consensus', dominated global policymaking, with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation as the institutional centres of gravity. Developing countries have complained for decades about the 'terms of trade', 'conditionalities' and intellectual property rights linked with trade sanctions. The limits to trade liberalisation are now also being raised in the West.

David Ricardo's arguments of comparative advantage of countries and Adam Smith's emphasis on competition creating wealth are not relevant in today's knowledgebased, urbanised world of middle-class consumers and global value chains.

The problem is not trade, which has been happening for over 2,000 years,

but the nature of recent rules going beyond facilitating commercial transactions.

Donald Trump, recognising global trends, is reviewing the role of the U.S. based on alliances, rules and values.

He prefers an "America First" approach, wants to "reset" ties with Russia around "mutual respect", and wishes for the "strongest relationship" with China, with trade as the foundation of bilateral ties.

Asian views The thought leadership for shaping global politics, with Asia restored at its economic centre, should revert to the 2,000-yearold pattern of commercial transactions, with trade rules limited to standardisation and dispute settlement. Asian prosperity is more than a geo-economic or geopolitical concept, underlined

by President Barack Obama's failed attempt to prevent Asia from setting the new rules for trade.

China and India have much in common, if we move out of the Western frame, as both are civilisational states whose contours were shaped by

major snow-fed rivers. In both states, no strategic thinker advocated conquest of lands outside this sphere, in sharp contrast to Western strategic thinking on control of the seas, security alliances and rules pushing common values as the best way of organising international relations.

In political thought also, Amartya Sen has pointed out, religious tolerance and human rights are not Western concepts. Chinese civilisation has had a more secular orientation than any other civilisation.

In Indian political thought, authority was based on the interests of all. In both civilisations, the king was regarded as guardian and not creator of the law.

The Asian giants have yet to reconstruct international relations theory around a global vision of sharing natural resources, technology and prosperity - issues they have together fought for over 50 years in the United Nations.

India's strategic priorities China took advantage of

Nothing is written My all-time favourite film is "Lawrence Of Arabia" and, if I have a favourite scene from the movie, then I guess it is the one of Lawrence's triumphal return from the Nefud desert, having gone back to rescue the Arab Gasim. The crossing of the Nefud desert is considered impossible, even by the local Arabs, but Lawrence persuades them that, in this way, they can take the

Turkish port at Aqaba from the rear.

Having carried out the superhuman feat of traversing this furnace, it is discovered that one of the Arabs, Gasim, has fallen off his camel and is no doubt dying somewhere back in the desert. Lawrence is told that any idea of rescue is futile and, in any event,

Gasim's death is "written". When Lawrence achieves the impossible and returns with Gasim still alive, Sherif Ali admits to him: "Truly, for some men nothing is written unless they write it".

As an impressionable teenager when this film was first released, I was stunned by Lawrence's courage and unselfishness in going

back into the hell of the Nefud to attempt to find a man he hardly knew among the vast expanse of a fiery terrain and I was so moved by the sense of purpose of a man who is determined to take nothing as "written" but to shape his own destiny. This sense of anti-determinism and this belief that anything is possible has stayed with me always and continues to inspire me in small ways and large.

global value chains shaping long-term economic calculations, redefining global power and securing a head start over India. China will remain the world's largest producer of goods and India can be the largest producer of services. The services sector will be the real driver of future growth in Asia, with affluence concentrated in cities, giving a younger India future advantage.

India has the capacity for global leadership as the hub of the new knowledge-based order, including new pharmaceuticals and crop varieties, as it is the only country with both extensive endemic biodiversity and world-class endogenous biotechnology industry.

Along with global leadership in software-led innovation, foundation of the new low-carbon digital-sharing economy, India is developing lowcost solutions for urbanisation, governance, health and education problems. Sharing solutions to common problems as a new form of international relations will provide legitimacy to

reshape the global order with sustainability as the defining value.

China is keen to have India on board its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative for connectivity-led trade in Eurasia. It has suggested a free trade agreement and both countries recognise the synergies for achieving the 'Asian Century'. India's knowledge-based strengths complement those of China in infrastructure and investment.

India should seek to 'redefine' OBOR, adding a stronger component for a 'Digital Sustainable Asia', and for Eurasian connectivity to have two nodes, as has been the case throughout civilisation.

A mutual recognition of ancient special interests in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean should be a strategic objective.

This step will enable an understanding on issues like membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, global terrorism, and Gwadar, which are irritants in the development of stronger ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must recognise that trade will trump security.

Not yet developed The horrifying visuals of the derailed Indore-Patna Express reveal a stark truth: India is still far, far away from becoming a developed nation. A country that dreams of bullet trains cannot even keep its railway lines safe. The condition of the derailed coaches provides enough reason to suspect that substandard material was used in their construction. In India, every accident is followed by an enquiry commission, which submits findings but is not able to prevent another accident. Neither are people held responsible for such mishaps and punished.

Techi Ribba Seppa, Arunachal Pradesh

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P7

Modi Keynote App Is a Prank, and Not a Samsung Galaxy S7 Family Genuine Currency Authentication Tool Is Safe, Says Company after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement regarding the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes earlier this month created a huge sense of disruption as people lined up in long ATM and bank queues to withdraw, exchange, and deposit money. Digital wallets have seen a huge rise in the prevailing cash crunch. The introduction of new Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 notes has also raised the worries about authentication, as exactly what separates a genuine note from a counterfeit one isn't yet common knowledge.

This, as could be expected, has given rise to prank apps that claim to check the authenticity of the new currency notes. A prank Android app that recently made its way to Google Play caused much confu-

KEY HIGHLIGHTS The prank app has been taken off Google Play Similar prank apps have now turned up on Google Play Has been floated around as authentication tool for new currency notes sion, and gave rise to even more prank apps.

Made by Barra Skull Studios, the original augmented reality Modi Keynote app is no longer listed on Google Play. However, several duplicate apps are floating around, aiming to cater to users looking for the much-reported app.

The Modi Keynote app claimed to check whether currency notes are genuine by using the phone's camera to scan the note. The augmented reality app will show a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech regarding black money if the note is genuine, and will do nothing if the note is counterfeit or the

older note no longer in circulation. It claimed to help the demonetisation drive by spreading Prime Minister Modi's message on black money.

As must be clarified, the developers of the Modi Keynote are not associated with the government and have clearly mentioned in their Google Play listing

that the app is 'just for fun'.

The app makes use of smartphone's camera, and likely uses basic scanning tools to recognise the differences between real and fake, old and new currency notes - but will miss out on tiny but important details.

The Modi Keynote app was launched last week and was pulled over the weekend for reasons that are not yet known; despite developer Barra Skulls Studio adding the words "Prank app" to its name. However, as we mentioned, there are several duplicate Modi Keynote apps that have popped up in the meanwhile, with some using the 'prank app' suffix, and others not. Readers should advise friends and family that such apps are fake, and cannot be used as authentication tools.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Details Steps to Fight Fake News Facebook Inc, facing withering criticism for failing to stem a flood of phony news articles in the run-up to the US presidential election, is taking a series of steps to weed out hoaxes and other types of false information, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post Friday evening.

Facebook has long insisted that it is a technology company and not a publisher, and rejects the idea that it should be held responsible for the content that its users circulate on the platform. Just after the election, Zuckerberg said the notion that fake or misleading news on Facebook had helped swing the election to Donald Trump was a "crazy idea."

Zuckerberg then said last Saturday that more than 99 percent of what people see on Facebook is authentic, calling "only a very small amount" fake news and hoaxes.

But in his Friday posting Zuckerberg struck a decidedly different tone. He said Facebook has been working on the issue of misin-

Facebook historically has relied on users to report links as false and share links to myth-busting sites, including Snopes, to determine if it can confidently classify stories as misinformation, Zuckerberg said.

The service has extensive "community standards" on what kinds of content are acceptable.

formation for a long time, calling the problem complex both technically and philosophically.

"While the percentage of misinformation is relatively small, we have much more work ahead on our roadmap," Zuckerberg said.

He outlined a series of steps that were already underway, including greater use of automation to "de-

tect what people will flag as false before they do it themselves."

He also said Facebook would make it easier to report false content, work with third-party verification organizations and journalists on fact-checking efforts, and explore posting warning labels on content that has been flagged as false. The company will also try to prevent fake-

news providers from making money through its advertising system, as it had previously announced.

Zuckerberg said Facebook must be careful not to discourage sharing of opinions or mistakenly restricting accurate content.

"We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties," he said.

Facebook faced international outcry earlier this year after it removed an iconic Vietnam War photo due to nudity, a decision that was later reversed. The thorniest content issues are decided by a group of top executives at Facebook, and there have been extensive internal conversations at the company in recent months over content controversies, people familiar with the discussions say.

Among the fake news reports that circulated ahead of the US election were reports erroneously alleging Pope Francis had endorsed Trump and that a federal agent who had been investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was found dead.

Reports of Explosions

We won't be entirely incorrect when we say that 2016 will be remembered as one of the worst years in Samsung's smartphone business. The South Korean company earlier this year permanently discontinued Galaxy Note 7 after multiple fire and explosion cases were reported by users. Now after a couple of explosion cases reported which involve Samsung's premium Galaxy S7 smartphones, Samsung has issued a pre-emptive statement.

The company in its statement said, "Samsung stands behind the quality and safety of the Galaxy S7 family. There have been no confirmed cases of internal battery failures with these devices among the more than 10 million devices being used by consumers in the United States; however, we have confirmed a number of instances caused by severe external damage. Until Samsung is able to obtain and examine any device, it is impossible to determine

Samsung has claimed that Galaxy S7 family is safe to use Samsung's preemptive statement comes after few reports of explosion Galaxy Note 7 already discontinued because of fire issue the true cause of any incident."

Previously, Samsung started sending pop-up messages to Galaxy S7 customers reassuring them that their Galaxy S7 units were safe, and that there was no recall for their devices.

In a recent smartphone explosion case, a Samsung Galaxy S7 user claimed that his handset exploded causing second and third degree burns on hands. In another case, Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge reportedly exploded while on charge last month.

The user claimed that he was charging the phone with

the original Samsung charger overnight, when it caught fire automatically. In another case involving Galaxy S7 Edge, a user reported that the handset exploded inside the pocket causing second and third degree burns.

In a separate incident reported from France, a Samsung Galaxy J5 user in France claimed that his smartphone caught fire and exploded. Lately, Samsung has not been the only brand affected by phone explodes problems as users have reported similar issues on new iPhones.

LeEco and Coolpad Could Soon Launch 'Cool' Smartphone With 6GB of RAM LeEco and Coolpad in August announced the Cool series with the launch of their first joint handset, the Cool1 Dual. The partnership between the two companies began when LeEco's CEO Jia Yueting took over as Coolpad's Chairman in August. After launching the Cool1 Dual, it looks like the two brands are ready with their next Cool smartphone, which is reportedly simply called Cool. The new Cool smartphone recently passed through China's certification website TENAA.

Snapdragon 821 coupled with 4GB/ 6GB RAM options. The device will supposedly be offered in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage variants.

The Cool smartphone will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

While the Cool1 Dual came with a dual rear camera setup, the Cool smartphone will be seen with a single 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8megapixel front shooter. A big 4000mAh battery will power the device.

According to the TENAA listing spotted by GizmoChina, the Cool smartphone will feature a 5.5-inch 1080p display powered by a 2.35GHz

With LeEco partnering with Coolpad, you can also expect some of LeEco's design language to seem into the Cool series. The new Cool smartphone's design looks similar to the

Le Pro 3 that was launched

by LeEco in September.

However, instead of a brush finish metal on the Le Pro 3, the Cool smartphone's back looks clearer. As per the leaked design, the lower part of the back features the Cool logo with 'LeEco Inside' written just below. Like we mentioned earlier, the rest of the smartphone looks similar to the Le Pro 3.

Nothing more about the device is known as of now.

As the device has been certified, one can expect the launch of the Cool smartphone soon enough.

More details regarding specifications and pricing will be known once the device goes official.

Fake News on Facebook Is a Real Problem.

These Students Came Up With a Fix in 36 Hours When Nabanita De scrolled through her Facebook feed recently, she felt afraid. There were so many posts with competing information and accusations about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton that she didn't know how to begin deciphering the fearmongering from the reality.

The social media site has faced criticism since the presidential election for its role in disseminating fake and misleading stories that are indistinguishable from real news.

Because Facebook's algorithm is designed to determine what its individual users want to see, people often see only that which validates their existing beliefs regardless of whether the information is true.

So when De, an international second-year master's student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, attended a hackathon at Princeton University this week where the goal was to develop a technology project in 36 hours, she suggested to her three teammates

that they build an algorithm to authenticate what is real and what is fake on Facebook.

And they were able to do it. The four students De, with Purdue University freshman Anant Goel and sophomores Mark Craft and Qinglin Chen from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign - built a Chrome browser extension that tags links in Facebook feeds as verified or not verified by taking into account factors such as the source's credibility and cross-checking the content with other news stories. Where a post appears to be false, the plugin will provide a summary of more credible information on the topic online. A small blue box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen says either "verified" or "not verified."

They've called it FiB. Since the students developed it in only 1 1/2 days (and have classes and schoolwork to worry about), they've released it as an "open-source project," asking anyone with development experience to help improve it.

The four students built a Chrome extension It tags links in Facebook feeds as verified or not verified They factor in the source's credibility and cross-check the content

The plugin is available for download to the public, but the demand was so great that their limited operation couldn't handle it.

Ideally, Goel said, Facebook would team up with a third-party developer such as FiB so that the company could control all news feed data but let the developers verify it so Facebook couldn't be accused of "hidden agendas or biases."

The sponsors of the hackathon included Facebook and other major technology companies, but neither Facebook nor Google has contacted the students about FiB. Both companies have said this week that they will take steps to address the spread of fake news.

This year's presidential election has shown how the lines have blurred be-

tween fact and lies, with people profiting from the spread of fake news. More than 100 news sites that made up pro-Trump content have been traced to Macedonia, according to a BuzzFeed News investigation. The Washington Post interviewed Paul Horner, a prolific fakenews creator, who said: "I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don't fact-check anything they'll post everything, believe anything."

Melissa Zimdars, a communications professor at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, said she's seen a similar problem with students who cite questionable sources. So she created a list of fake, misleading or satirical sites as a reference, not as a direct response to the postelection fake news debate but to encourage students to be more medialiterate by checking what they read against other sources.

The list, which she has continued to add to since she made it public earlier this week, has gone viral.

She included tips for analyzing news sources: "Watch out if known/ reputable news sites are not also reporting on the story. Sometimes lack of coverage is the result of corporate media bias and other factors, but there should typically be more than one source reporting on a topic or event.

"If the story makes you REALLY ANGRY it's probably a good idea to keep reading about the topic via other sources to

make sure the story you read wasn't purposefully trying to make you angry (with potentially misleading or false information) in order to generate shares and ad revenue."

Zimdars said people have grown so distrustful of institutional media that they turn to alternative sources. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that only 18 percent of people have a lot of trust in national news organizations; nearly 75 per-

cent said news organizations are biased.

It doesn't help, Zimdars said, that news media, to be profitable, rely on "clickbait" headlines that are sometimes indistinguishable from the fake stories.

Paul Mihailidis, who teaches media literacy at Emerson College in Boston had a different take.

"I don't think a lot of people didn't know; I think they didn't care.

They saw it as a way to advocate," Mihailidis

said. "The more they could spread rumors, or could advocate for their value system or candidate, that took precedent over them not knowing. A large portion of them didn't stop to critique the information. One of the things that has happened is people are scrolling though [Facebook] and the notion of deep reading is being replaced by deep monitoring. They see a catchy headline, and the default is to share."

And the way people consume news, by a flick of the thumb on a smartphone, means they are less likely to crosscheck what they're reading against other sources.

That's where the plugin tool presents a simple solution.

"A few days back, I read an article telling people they can drill a jack in the iPhone7 and have an earphone plug, and people started doing it and ruining their phones," De said. "We know we can search on Google and research it, but if you have five minutes and you're just scrolling through Facebook, you don't have time to go verify it."

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P8

NATION

6 Jets Touch Down For Opening Of Agra- Nitish govt releases its Lucknow Expressway, India's Longest annual report card Unnao, Nov 21: Six fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) starred in the grand opening on Monday of India's longest expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was present when his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav opened the Agra-Lucknow Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow.

Sukhoi and Mirage 2000s jets performed simulated landings, a first for any road launch. The first jet, a Sukhoi, could not land on its first attempt because of a dog that had strayed onto its path. The aircraft was forced to overshoot its touch-down spot. It was successful in its second attempt at the end of the show.

Fighter jets of the Indian Air Force landed on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in a drill.

The 305 km expressway was completed in a record 23 months. It is tipped to reduce travel time between Delhi and the Uttar Pradesh capital from nine hours to around five.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election early next year, campaign music blared out

of speakers and the feuding Yadav clan put up a show of unity. Mulayam Singh's younger brother Shivpal, who has been ranged against Akhilesh, and Ram Gopal Yadav, reinstated weeks after his sacking, shared the stage.

Former chief minister

Mayawati accused the ruling party of trying to rush the launch of the highway when even road signs haven't all been put up.

"When I was UP Chief Minister, there were some flaws in the Noida Expressway...They said inaugurate it before polls but I refused to play with people's lives by inaugurating an incomplete expressway," she said.

On Friday, a fighter jet practised on a 3.3 km stretch of the highway marked for landings as part of a Defence Ministry plan for emergencies when military air fields are not available. A bureaucrat who was returning to Lucknow after watching the test landing was injured in a car crash on the brand new highway.

Earlier that day, the Chief

HIGHLIGHTS 302 km AgraLucknow Expressway was built in a record 23 months Expressway to have 3.3 km stretch for fighter jet landings Automated traffic system to manage in fog and reduce accidents Minister, who had recently taken a ride with his family on the expressway, had warned: "I request you to drive on the expressway with caution and not exceed a speed limit of 100 km an hour."

The state government hired an eight-camera setup to shoot the event.

(PTI)

PM Modi is working for a Parliament washed out again over demonetisation select few only: Rahul Gandhi New Delhi, Nov 21 : Parliament was disrupted yet again today with the Opposition changing tact in Rajya Sabha demanding adoption of a condolence resolution for those who have died in queues in banks postdemonetisation and pressing for voting on a discussion that entails voting.

A united Opposition gave a new dimension in the Upper House by asserting that no discussion on demonetisation would take place till the House adopts a resolution mourning the death of nearly 70 people said to have been caused by hardships after the junking of the high-denomination notes.

The Lok Sabha could not function for the third straight working day as opposition parties insisted on taking up of an Adjournment Motion on demonetisation and a debate under a rule that entails voting.

The Rajya Sabha, which saw a day-long inconclusive debate on demonetisation on the opening day of the Winter session on November 16, has failed to transact any business since then as the Opposition has been

pressing for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his response to the debate.

Among those pressing for the condolence resolution were Congress, BSP, TMC and CPI(M).

Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Opposition of running away from the demonetisation debate.

"Merits and demerits will come out in a debate...

Why are they (opposition parties) running away from debate? This is clear now that the opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House," he said amid slogan shouting by opposition members who were in the well of the House.

Stating that the notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 was accepted on the first day of the winter session and a debate had started, Jaitley said the reported deaths could come up during the course of this debate and the reply to it.

The House was adjourned repeatedly even as the government side, including Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, continued to question the opposition's behaviour.

"The sense of the country is against black money.

Sense of the country is in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and against those opposing demonetisation," Naqvi said repeatedly, adding that the opposition is unable to feel the pulse of the people.

As the uproar continued, the House was adjourned for the day at minutes past 3 PM. Similar was the situation in the Lok Sabha with opposition parties disrupting the proceedings for the third consecutive day by demanding Adjournment Motion (suspension of all work) and discussion on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government was ready for the debate if the opposition allowed the discussion under Rule 193 that does not entail voting or passage of a resolution.

The opposition rejected it.

Due to the uproar, the House was adjourned repeatedly and the finally for the day at around 2 PM. (PTI)

6-Year-Old Boy, Border Security Force (BSF) Soldier Killed In Pak Firing HIGHLIGHTS A BSF soldier died in Pak firing late on Sunday Pak violated ceasefire twice in Jammu's RS Pura Another BSF jawan had died in snipper attack in Hiranagar sector

A BSF soldier injured in Pakistani firing in Jammu's and Kashmir's RS Pura died.

Jammu, Nov 21: A sixyear-old boy and a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier were killed in heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu's RS Pura sector.

Another BSF soldier and eight civilians were also injured in the firing.

The injured soldiers were evacuated to a hospital in Jammu where one of them died late last night.

Pakistani Rangers violated ceasefire twice on Sunday in the RS Pura sector. Security personnel gave a "suitable reply", a BSF spokesperson said.

Pakistani troops targeted 13 border outposts and villages in RS Pura, Pargwal and Kanachak, using mortar shells and firing small arms.

Another BSF jawan Gurnam Singh, who was hit in the sniper attack in Hiranagar sector along the International Border in Kathua district on Friday night, had died late on Saturday.

Seven Pakistani Rangers or paramilitary soldiers were killed in the retaliatory firing by the troops, the BSF said. The Pakistan army however denied any casualties on

their side.

Warning Pakistan against any misadventure, a top officer of the border guarding force said that "we are ready for any eventuality".

"If they try to do anything, they will be given a befitting reply. We are fully prepared for that," BSF Additional Director General Arun Kumar said on Sunday.

Multiple ceasefire violations have been reported along the International Border and Line of Control after India conducted surgical strikes across the border in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to target staging areas for terrorists last month. Pakistan has denied the cross-border raids. (Agencies)

Nitish Kumar.

Patna, Nov 21: Promulgation of a stringent liquor law coupled with a string of new development initiatives to provide power, toilets and drinking water to every household were the highights of the annual report card released by the Nitish Kumar government on the completion of a year in office.

A function to mark the release of the report was slated for yesterday, but was cancelled in the wake of the Indore-Patna Express tragedy in which 143 passengers were killed, many of them from Bihar.

Kumar after assuming

power in the state in 2005 had started the tradition of releasing an annual report card to give an account of government's developmental and welfare initiatives taken during the year.

In continuation with this, the report, the first of the grand secular alliance headed by Kumar was released today on the website of the state Information and Public Relations Department.

The 140-page report titled "Development with Justice Mahagathbandhan Government Ist year" showcases the launch of "Saat Nishchay" (seven resolves) to usher in

allround development of the state in the next four years of the JD(U), RJD and Congress coalition ministry.

It asserts that "rule of law" prevailed in the state.

"Stringent enforecement of legal procedures and provisions without any malice or discrimination have led to reduction in crime rates with effective punishment to criminals rendering them ineffective. We have cracked down strongly on organised crime and shall continue the momentum with strict enforcement," the CM said at the outset.

While highlighting the new initiatives by way of launch of programmes to realise the goal under 'seven resolves', the state government in its report said that it would continue with programmes and policies of 'Agriculture Roadmap', 'Mission Manav Vikas' (Human resources development), 'Kaushal vikas mission (skill development mission)' and Industrial promotion and incentives.(PTI)

Kerala: Govt taking stern action on violence between CPM, BJP activists, says CM It was also decided to install CCTVs in areas prone to violence.

Rahul Gandhi.

New Delhi, Nov 21: Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation issue, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the PM was working for a select few only and was not concerned for the poor common man, who has been queueing up for hours outside banks and ATMs. "I have gone to the banks to see the situation myself in the morning. People there told me that they are facing a lot of inconvenience," Rahul said outside Parliament.

Both Houses were adjourned repeatedly as the combined opposition was unrelenting in its protest on the demonetisation issue.

Rahul said people were alleging that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from the back door in the banks for a few "selected people" while there were long queues of common people waiting outside for hours.

"They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash. Those who are rich getting that and those who are poor they are made to stand in the queue.

"They will be in the queue for three days and then they will leave (without cash). People are facing losses because of this," he said.

Earlier in the day Rahul visited several ATMs in the city where he spoke to people about their problems.

On PM's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, the Congress scion asked, "For whom? "and added "I feel the treasuries of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people those who are in the queue will only suffer losses."

Asked why opposition is not ready for discussion, he, how-

ever, said "We are going to discuss. We are ready for discussion."

On the question of PM's absence in Parliament, Rahul said "What is the need for the PM to come to Parliament? These days he is at a different level. Neither he discusses with his Ministers nor he talks to anybody. Whatever he thinks, he decides on his own.

"Such a big economic decision was taken in the history of India and he did it after talking with three-four people. There was no planning. What will happen to farmers, poor people, fisheries industries in Kerala and Bengal? He did not think of them."

Taking a pot shot at Modi, the Congress leader said, "He is in a new form these days. You cannot call him super PM also. One has to think to define him, a new word has to be coined to describe him."

Rahul also condoled the loss of lives in train accident in Uttar Pradesh and said the Prime Minister should first focus on improving safety and facilities for common man in trains, instead of planning to introduce bullet train.

"Infrastructure of Indian Railways needs to be improved.

Modiji has talked of bullet train with Rs 1 lakh crore investment.

The focus is at wrong place.

Focus should be on how to make travelling in trains safer for the common people," he said.

Talking of the need to reduce train journey time, he said, "If it takes two hours to reach a place then how it can be reduced to one hour. If it takes 20 hours then how we can make him reach in 10 hours."

"But Modiji's entire thinking is for 3000-5000 people. He spoke on bullet train but why did he not speak of track maintenance and safety?" (PTI)

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 21: An all-party meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday resolved to work for permanent peace in the northern parts of Kerala, especially Kannur district, which has witnessed political clashes mainly between CPI(M) and BJP activists after the Assembly polls. "The government received full support and cooperation from all political party leaders who attended the meeting, to ensure peace and end violence," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after the meeting.

He said the state government had assured that stern action would be taken against persons indulging in political violence, irrespective of their party affiliations.

"It was agreed by all parties that they will denounce those who indulge in violence and breach the peace process. Steps would be taken to end the activities of certain groups and outfits in places of worship," Vijayan said.

Pinarayi Vijayan, CM of Kerala meets CPI leaders including their chief D Raja at the CPI HQ in New Delhi.

It was also decided to install CCTVs in areas prone to violence.

Police would conduct searches and raids to recover country-made bombs and arms being manufactured locally, he said adding party leaders stated that production of arms and bombs in certain places was still continuing.

State ministers Kadanapally Ramacha ndran and K K Shyalaja, both from Kannur, took part in the meet.

BJP state chief

Govt won't be aggressive, but will not take things lying down: Parrikar

5 naxals surrender in Gadchiroli Nagpur, Nov 21: Five dreaded naxals, collectively carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakhs on their heads have surrendered, police said today.

Dinesh Shantaram Maku Madavi (25), Mangesh Raju Yera Madavi (24), Savita Tumreti (21), all carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakhs on their heads, as well as Vasant Vadde (23) and Ravi Gota (25), both carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakhs, surrendered before Gadchiroli

police yesterday, an official release issued here by police said.

Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Avinash Deshmukh said more naxals may surrender in near future.

A total of 44 naxalites have surrendered this year.

All the five surrendered rebels were involved in a number of naxal-related crimes, police encounter and arson, the release added. (PTI)

Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Avinash Deshmukh said more naxals may surrender in near future.

K u m m a n o m Rajasekharan, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, KPCC president V M Sudheeran, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, CPI state secretary Kannam Rajedran were among the prominent political figures in the meeting.

DGP Loknath Behra and Home Secretary Nalini Netto also attended the meeting, held as a follow up to the series of peace meets held at local and regional levels. (PTI)

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Mumbai, Nov 21: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the recent surgical strike across the Line of Controlhas put forth the message that the government will not be aggressive, but at the same time will also not take things lying down.

"Surgical strike has given a message that Indian government will not be aggressive but will also not take things lying down," Parrikar told reporters here, when asked asked

about his take on the Army's action in September against terror camps and the recent rise in ceasefire violations across the border.

He was talking to mediapersons after the commissioning of new warship 'INS Chennai' in Mumbai on Monday.

When asked about growing indigenisation of technology in ship building and missiles, the Defence Minister said, "We want to achieve 75 per cent indigenisation of technol-

ogy at least. One must not forget that 100 per cent indigenisation of such technology is not possible anywhere in the world."

Parrikar also said that the need is to increase the speed to clear the backlog of projects.

"Most of the defence projects are streamlined and the waiting period for their commencement and completion has come down drastically. We need to increase the speed and focus on projects more so that we will complete the backlog. Synergy of various departments has helped to achieve it," he said.

Earlier, Parrikar commissioned 'INS Chennai', the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class.

Built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship's construction also marks the end of the Project 15A to build Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

EDUCATION

P9

Fashion Designing: Part II Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories.

Designing involves creating original designs which requires an in-depth knowledge of the changing trends of the market. If

one is creative and artistic enough to add some style to otherwise cognate items, one can take up a career in fashion designing.

The major functional areas in the industry are designing, merchandising, popularizing and marketing of the various styles and

Footwear Technology

Textile Designing

products. Though Fashion Designing is usually associated with only garment designing, there are a plethora of specializations, namely

jewellery designing, gemology, footwear technology and accessory designing which can be chosen as per the interest of the individual.

Garment Designing

India ranks second among the footwear producing nations.

Footwear technology has come a long way from traditional shoemakers cutting and stitching leather, to specialized professionals. One of the important specializations in fashion designing, Footwear Designing involves combining breathtaking creativity with technical skills to create wearable works of art which enhance the overall look.

Textile Designing is the most important aspect of the fashion industry. It comprises both surface and structural designs. Structural designs are made through weaving, knitting and crocheting while surface designs are carried out by dyeing, printing, texturing or embroidering. Textile designinginvolves producing patterns for cloth used in clothing, household textiles and decorative textiles. For those interested in pursuing a career in Textile Designing, it is pertinent to note that the textile industry is the second largest employer in India.

A textile designer can be employed in the garment, fashion, home furnishing and the interiors segment among other industries. Export houses also employ a good number of textile designers. There are also growing opportunities with government sponsored handloom, khadi, jute and craft development organizations. Experienced textile designers can work as freelancers offering their designs to different organizations.

Significantly, India ranks second among the footwear producing nations, clearly illustrating the developing potential in this sector. In addition, high fashion consciousness in contemporary and the wide media exposure has contributed immensely to the popularity of this field as a career option amongst the youth. Research and development, design, manufacturing operations, sales and marketing, retail and wholesale, quality control and management are some of the options in which a newbie can seek employment.

Once you establish yourself as a reliable designer you can freelance and earn handsomely.

Where to study? mFootwear Design and Development Institute, Noida mThe Central Footwear Training Institute, Agra mCentral Leather Research Institute, Chennai mNational Institute of Fashion Technology Campus, Chennai mCentral Footwear Training Institute, Chennai mAnna University, Chennai *Indicative Listing

Fashion Designing is the art of the application of new designs reflecting market trends to garments.

Traditionally better known for its textile exports and manufacturing capabilities, India has emerged in recent years as a contender on the global fashion scene. With its growth into a centre of innovation, Fashion Designing has emerged as a serious discipline and comprehensive courses in it have been developed which allow the Indian youth to consider the fashion industry as a viable career option.

Fashion designing is considered to have started in the nineteenth century with Charles Frederick Worth who was the first designer to have his label sewn into the garments that he created. Designing involves creating original designs after studying the changing trends of the market. Thus, fashion designing is the art of the application of these new designs to garments.

Where to study? èGarden City College, Bangalore

Where to study? èGarden City College, Bangalore

èInstitute of Apparel Management, Gurgaon and Mumbai

èInstitute of Apparel Management, Gurgaon and Mumbai

èJD Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai

èJD Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai

èMaeer's MIT Institute of Design, Pune

èMaeer's MIT Institute of Design, Pune

èDelhi Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi

èDelhi Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi

èB D Somani Institute of Art and Fashion Technology, Mumbai

èB D Somani Institute of Art and Fashion Technology, Mumbai

èIsituti Callegari Milano, Mumbai

èIsituti Callegari Milano, Mumbai

èModart International, Mumbai

èModart International, Mumbai

èVogue Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

èVogue Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

èInternational Institute of Fashion Design, Pune

èInternational Institute of Fashion Design, Pune

èNational Institute of Fashion Technology (Bangalore, New Delhi, Chennai, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai) *Indicative Listing

èNational Institute of Fashion Technology (Bangalore, New Delhi, Chennai, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai)

Offbeat Career: Football Football has always been more like a religion to people across the globe and interestingly it has a wide scope if pursued as a career.

matches being hosted in different countries. The «Attending exhaustive sport requires daily regular training sessions training to stay in shape to improve your skills and and fit. general fitness.

Does football give you an adrenaline rush? Do you have extraordinary footballing talent, motivation to work hard and will to improve your performance level then being a footballer could be ideal for you.

« Working on tactics, watching videos of matches and analysing your strengths and weaknesses

Usually a career in football begins at a young age. Scouts from professional clubs are sent out to look for promising youngsters who are then invited for trials. If successful, they are then invited to join as a youth player and if they are good enough they may eventually be signed as a professional once they reach the required age.

your league.

« Working and interacting with specialists such as physiotherapists, sports psychologists, coaches and your team manager to broaden your horizons and increase knowledge about the sport and your game.

Income: Individual earnings vary widely depending on the reputation, game, skills and talent of the player.

To some extent it also depends on the club a player is playing for.

Increment in earnings can happen by performance-related bonuses, appearance fees, endorsements and sponsorship.

Training and «Seeking advice on diet development: and lifestyle from If you are age 16 to 18, passion and play on Skills, interests « commitment and dedication to improving challenges nutritionists and doctors. you may be able to train various levels, be an and qualities: Hours:

A footballer usually plays in matches in the evening or at weekends. Life of The work: a footballer is very tiring as it involves a lot of « Playing in matches travelling with your club against other teams in or national team for

on the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) scheme. You would work towards the Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance.

If you're keen on making football your career then you must keep up the

opportunity spotter join reputed academies that help improve your skills and turn your passion in to a well paying career.

To become a footballer your performance good team work skills you should have:

«exceptional foot-balling talent

A footballer needs to «hunger to compete follow a strict training regime to keep up your «self-discipline skills and general fitness. «passion for the sport

«a high level of fitness and stamina the ability to cope with the stress « persistence determination « ability to

and face

Scope:

The sport requires tremendous fitness. «strength to fight failure Football is backed by a good pay if you're going «aggression channelized good but the average in the right direction professional playing career is relatively short « strength to perform and for most players is under pressure over by their early thirties. It could also be «focus in the game interrupted or cut short by injury.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P10 Yemen ceasefire ends without extension INTERNATIONAL

No more working hospitals in eastern Aleppo: UN UN agencies, including WHO, have been barred from entering eastern Aleppo since July when regime troops seized the last access route, leaving the area cut off from food and medical aid for more than four months.

Geneva, Nov 21: There are no more functioning hospitals in the rebel-held eastern part of Syria's Aleppo, where more than 250,000 people are living under siege and many need urgent medical care, the UN has said. Health facilities have repeatedly been targeted during the country's brutal civil war, a pattern that has continued in a ferocious governUN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, whose efforts ment assault launched last to negotiate aid access to eastern Aleppo have Tuesday to recapture repeatedly fallen flat, warned Sunday that time was eastern Aleppo running out to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

"There are currently no hospitals functioning in the "are still available through UN Syria envoy Staffan besieged area of the city," small clinics", but that de Mistura, whose efforts the World Health Organi- trauma care, major sur- to negotiate aid access to zation (WHO) said in a geries and other responses eastern Aleppo have restatement on Sunday, cit- to serious conditions have peatedly fallen flat, warned ing reports from its part- stopped.

Sunday that time was runners in the area.

UN agencies, including ning out to avoid a hu"More than 250,000 men, WHO, have been barred manitarian catastrophe. women and children living from entering eastern Civilians in the city's govin eastern Aleppo are now Aleppo since July when ernment-controlled west without access to hospi- regime troops seized the have also been hit in deadly tal care," the United Na- last access route, leaving rebel attacks, but the area tions agency added. WHO the area cut off from food has continued to receive noted that some health ser- and medical aid for more humanitarian supplies. vices in the devastated area than four months.

(Agencies)

Yemen, Nov 21: A 48hour ceasefire ended Monday in Yemen after failing to stem violence across the country, with both sides blaming each other for deadly "violations" of the US-backed truce.

The ceasefire, aimed at ending the chaos and bloodshed that has gripped Yemen since March 2015, came into effect on Saturday following the intervention of US Secretary of State John Kerry.

But despite a lull in air strikes on the rebel-held capital, both parties traded accusations over hundreds of violations The Saudi-led coalition said the truce ended at midday (0900 GMT) Monday, and accused Iran-backed insurgents of repeatedly breaking it.

"There is no respect (for the truce), only violations," coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri told AFP. "There have been more people killed in (the southwestern city of) Taez and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles,

so automatically the conditions are not there" for prolonging the ceasefire deal, he said.

"At the military level, for the moment, we have no orders to extend the ceasefire. It's over."

The coalition had said the truce could be renewed if the rebels abided by the deal and allowed aid deliveries to besieged cities.

But both sides have accused each other of incessantly breaking the conditions of the deal, and violence flared as its expiration loomed.

Fifteen rebels and nine loyalist troops were killed in clashes overnight in and around Taez, military and medical sources said.

Four civilians were also killed and 11 others wounded in rebel bombing of loyalist-held neighbourhoods, the sources said.

Early Monday, forces loyal to Hadi attacked Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on the western outskirts of Taez, according to military officials.

The offensive targeted an

Yemen's Huthi rebels overran Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country in September 2014 ŠAhmad Al-Basha. air defence base, the officials said, while witnesses reported loud explosions.

Four of the Huthi casualties were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

Coalition warplanes hit rebel positions in Nahm, north of rebel-held capital Sanaa, and in the Huthi's heartland in Saada province, witnesses said.

And warplanes also conducted numerous sorties over Sanaa early Monday.

- Trading blame -

The ceasefire was the latest international effort to put an end to Yemen's 20month conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 7,000 people and wounded nearly 37,000.

Yemen's Huthi rebels overran Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country in September 2014, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to intervene six months later in support of President Abedrabbo

Mansour Hadi.

Pro-Hadi forces said Monday they repelled a rebel attack on their positions in Sarwah, in Marib province, east of the capital.

The ceasefire appeared to be shaky from the outset, and Assiri accused the rebels of 563 violations in Yemen and an additional 163 cross-border violations in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for renegade Yemeni troops allied with the rebels accused the pro-Hadi forces of more than 100 ceasefire violations.

Local aid activists and witnesses also accused the rebels of blocking a relief convoy of 18 lorries from reaching the city of Taez on Sunday.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says nearly three million people in Yemen are in need of immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children suffer malnutrition, including 370,000 enduring very severe malnutrition that weakens their immune system. (Agencies)

'Vaccine against South Korea's opposition parties move Melania Trump, son not to toward President Park impeachment HIV infection move to White House for now closer to reality' Asked if he was planning on moving into the presidential residence, Trump said "yes, White House"

President-elect Donald Trump, left, arrives with his son Barron, center, and wife Melania, to speak to an election night rally New York, Nov 21: US' future First Lady Melania Trump and son Barronwill not move to the White House immediately after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January with both the parents wary of pulling their child out in the middle of school year.

"There's obviously sensitivity to pulling their 10year-old out of school in the middle of the school year. A more formal statement will be coming in the future," transition team communications director Jason Miller told reporters.

His remarks came in response to a New York Post report, which citing sources, said the Presidentelect's 46-year-old wife and their son will stay put at the family's glitzy Trump Tower

penthouse so that Barroncan continue attending his Upper West Side private school.

"Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign," a source close to Trump's transition team was quoted as saying.

"The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum," the source said. Asked if he was planning on moving into the presidential residence, Trump, while speaking to reporters in New Jersey, said "yes, White House".

When asked whether his wife and son would be joining him there, Trump said, "Very soon. After he's finished with school." Trump will be sworn in as President on January 20.

Another source quoted by The Post said Melania will travel to the White House as needed, but that her primary focus is on Barron.

"Melania is very supportive of her husband and is fully on board of doing everything that's needed as first lady," the second source was quoted as saying.

The source said there is a possibility that Melania and Barron may move to the White Houseat the end of the school year, but no plans are in place. "She is really devoted to Barron," the daily quoted a source close to the family as saying.

Melania has not relied on nannies to raise the child and is frequently seen picking the fourth-grader up from his prep school, where tuition is over $40,000, the report said.

The decision to remain in their Midtown home will increase the security presence around Trump Tower -- an effort that will involve both Secret Service and the NYPD, an expert familiar with high-level security said.

"That building is going to become the White House of New York," said Jim Reese, a former Delta Force commander, said.

Strict security measures around Trump Tower will remain in place, with two of the five lanes on Fifth Avenue closed because of barriers, said officials at a joint NYPD, Secret Service and City Hall news conference on. (PTI)

Melbourne, Nov 21: In a significant progress towards the development of a vaccineagainst HIV, scientists have developed a new approach to help the immune system actively fight the virus in the body.

For the first time, researchers showed that a combined approach - using a common cold virus to introduce a vaccine into the body, as well as an injection of a DNAbased vaccine - may help protect against HIV in the gut and bodily cavities.

"With sexual activity being one of the primary methods of HIV transmission, it is necessary to try to protect those parts of the body that are most likely to encounter the virus first," said Branka Grubor-Bauk, from the University of Adelaide in Australia.

"A possible reason why previous HIV vaccine trials have not been successful is because of this lack of a frontline protection," Grubor-Bauk said.

The laboratory studies, conducted so far in mice represent an important step forward in attempts to introduce a first line of defence against HIV at the

site of infection.

"In mice, we delivered a rhinovirus (or common cold virus) inside the nose, and this virus had been altered to include HIV proteins," Grubor-Bauk said.

"At the same time, the mice also received an injection into the skin containing a DNA-based vaccine. This approach resulted in very specific responses in the immune system," she said.

"This vaccine approach encompasses two different arms of the immune system: white blood cells that attack the HIV virus, and specific antibodies that recognise and shut down HIV-positive cells," she added.

"There is an element of HIV known as Tat that helps the virus to replicate quite rapidly," said Eric Gowans, professor at University of Adelaide.

The antibodies inhibit the Tat effect, preventing HIV from replicating itself, Gowans added.

"Overall, we found that infection was considerably reduced in the mice we studied," he said. The study appears in the journal Scientific Reports.

(PTI)

Over 40 countries to attend Pak defense exhibition Nawaz Sharif should reach out to Islamabad, Nov 21: chiefs are attending the 90 delegations biennial event.

Donald Trump: Pervez Musharraf Around from 43 countries, in- "The defense industries India, he said, wants to maintain 'hegemony' in the region.

Islamabad, Nov 21: Pakistan has a 'golden opportunity' to counter Indian lobbying in the US and build an immediate liaison with the incoming administration of Donald Trump who is 'not well-versed' with South Asia's political dynamics, former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said. "This is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, the Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) needs to step up and build an immediate liaison with the new (US) administration," Musharraf said, adding that Trump is "not well-versed with political dynamics of the region and is yet to formulate a strategy vis-a-vis South Asia."

India, he said, wants to maintain 'hegemony' in the region. It sees itself as a future economic giant not only in the region, but in the world. India wants to isolate Pakistan not only economically but also diplomatically, he told Dunya news.

The India caucus in the US Senate is more vigilant and proactive; Pakistan needs to derive an effective strategy

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf.

as well to counter the Indian narratives in the US circles, he added.

Regarding the civil-military divide in Pakistan, he said that India has exploited this fault-line of the Pakistani political spectra, especially the PML-N regimes. There has always been a rift between the army chiefs and the incumbent government in the PML(N) regimes.

When asked about the future of Pakistan Army Chief

General Raheel Sharif, who is set to retire on November 29, Musharraf said he deserves an extension.

Musharraf said that he had previously rooted for Raheel because he is a popular army chief.

"Pakistan comes first. The four candidates for the army chief slot are competent and patriotic officers. I'm sure they will serve the flag first and foremost," he said.

(PTI)

cluding Russia and China, will attend a mega defense expo starting tomorrow in Karachi where Pakistan will showcase some of its indigenously-built defense equipment like battle tank Al-Khalid and JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defense equipment at the fourday event.

The 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) received an overwhelming response from exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe, said Commodore Tahir Javed, media director of the Defense Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defense Production.

He said 30 high-level teams comprising defense ministers, defense secretaries and services

of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europeand Asia will have a significant presence," he said.

Nine new countries which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria and Romania are also attending the event.

Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 T h u n d e r, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armored personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.

Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines for forging alliances in defence production.

(PTI)

Seoul, Nov 21: South Korea's opposition People's Party will start collecting signatures for an impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye, while the main opposition Democratic Party will review the conditions for impeachment, party spokesmen said on Monday.

South Korean prosecutors said on Sunday they believe Park was an accomplice in an influence-peddling scandal that has rocked her administration.

Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil and former presidential aide An Chongbum have been charged with abuse of power by pressuring companies to contribute funds to foundations at the center of the scandal.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday in the fourth straight weekend of protests against Park, in the biggest public demonstrations the country has

seen since the 1980s.

Park, who's five-year term ends in February 2018, has resisted calls to resign but has apologized twice, saying she only sought to benefit the economy not herself, but acknowledges carelessness in her ties with Choi.

The People's Party, with 38 seats in the singlechamber 300-member parliament, has started efforts to remove Park from office and will talk with other parties to get signatures for an impeachment motion, said a party spokesman Lee Yong-ho.

An impeachment motion requires at least half of the parliament to start and needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

If an impeachment motion passes parliament, it is reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which has to confirm it with at least six of its nine judges. Political analysts say an impeachment motion against Park has a good chance of

passing.

The Democratic Party, which has 121 seats, said on Monday it would start reviewing the conditions for impeachment proceedings but did not commit to starting the motion.

"Impeachment proceedings need perfect preparations as much is possible," Choo Mi-ae, head of the Democratic Party told a party meeting, adding the best scenario was for Park to step down.

Political analysts have said opposition parties are not pushing hard for impeachment because if the motion fails, it will improve Park's chances of surviving the crisis.

In 2004, parliament voted to impeach then-President Roh Moo-hyun, only to have the motion overturned by the Constitutional Court. The move was unpopular with the public, which saw it as an abuse of power by the opposition, which had a majority then. (Agencies)

More Rohingya villages razed in Myanmar's Rakhine region Yangon, Nov 21: More than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages have been razed in north-western Myanmar according to analysis of satellite images released on Monday.

Government soldiers have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since a series of coordinated and deadly attacks on police border posts last month.

Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, according to the UN, half of them over a two-day period when dozens died after the military brought in helicopter gunships.

Security forces have killed almost 70 people and arrested more than 400 since the lockdown began six weeks ago, according to state media reports, but activists say the number could be far higher.

Hundreds of Rohingya, who have long been persecuted by the state, have tried to flee the violence to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Witnesses and activists have reported soldiers killing Rohingya, raping their women and looting and burning their homes but the government has refused to allow in international observers to investigate.

Instead Myanmar's new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by "terrorists".

Independently verifying facts on the ground has been hampered by significant restrictions placed on journalists and aid agencies reaching the area.

But evidence of widespread destruction to villages is mounting.

Human Rights Watch, which released the satellite images, said on Monday it had identified 820 more structures that had been destroyed in five Rohingya villages between November 10-18.

In total, the rights group said its analysis showed 1,250 buildings had been destroyed during the military lockdown.

"Instead of responding with military-era style

accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams.

The government has said fewer than 300 houses have been destroyed in attacks by militants who want to "sow a seed of misunderstanding between the government troops and the people".

The resurgence of violence in Rakhine state has deepened a crisis that already posed a critical challenge to Ms Suu Kyi's administration seven months after it took power.

More than 100 people died in 2012 in clashes between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya, and tens of thousands of them were driven into displacement camps.

On Friday, the UN's special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, criticised the government's handling of the crisis and called for "urgent action" to protect civilians.

"The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations," she said.

(PTI)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P11

BUSINESS

Demonetisation effect: GDP to fall Banks get about Rs 5.44 lakh crore worth of scrapped notes by up to 80 bps, says DBS

The banks also disbursed Rs 1,03,316 crore over the This projection, however, is very meagre as many brokerages have already projected even a 50 counter and via ATMs between Nov 10 to Nov 18 per cent dip in GDP growth, with Ambit Capital being the steepest at 3.6 per cent.

Mumbai, Nov 21: Singaporean brokerage DBS has warned of major downside risks to growth due to the demonetisation exercise, and has estimated that the gross value added can come down by up to 0.80 per cent lower than its 7.6 per cent target. "There are downside risks to the tune of 0.40-0.80 per cent to our gross-value added estimate of 7.6 per cent," it said in a note on Monday, nearly a fortnight after the government demonetised the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes. This projection, however, is very meagre as many brokerages have already

Workers of One of the Screw Factory suffering after cash shortage has impacted manufacturing units, in Industrial Area phase 1 Chandigarh on Friday, November 17 2016.

Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh

projected even a 50 per cent dip in GDP growth, with Ambit Capital being the steepest at 3.6 per cent.

The brokerage said there will be an impact on consumer goods and discre-

tionary spending for at least two quarters, which will impact growth till March 2017. Cash dependent businesses will be hit the most during this period and rural demand, especially from

Borrowers get additional 60 days to repay loans: RBI Mumbai, Nov 21: In view of cash crunch being faced by borrowers, the RBI today provided additional 60 days for repayment of housing, car, farm and other loans worth up to Rs 1 crore.

This is applicable to loans payable between November 1 and December 31, the RBI said in a notification. "... It has been decided to provide an additional 60 days beyond what is applicable for the concerned regulated entity for recognition of a loan account as substandard," it said.

The above relaxation is available to entities running working capital accounts with any bank with the sanctioned limit of Rs 1 crore or less.

Term loans, whether business or personal, secured or otherwise, the original sanctioned amount of Rs 1 crore or less, on the books of any bank or any NBFC, including NBFC (MFI) would also get benefit of this relaxation.

This will also include housing loans and agriculture loans, it said.

The apex bank further said

that all regulated financial institutions should note that this is a short-term deferment of classification as substandard due to delay in payment of dues arising during the period specified above and does not result in restructuring of the loans.

"Dues payable before November 1 and after December 31, 2016, will be covered by the extant instruction for the respective regulated entity with regard to recognition of NPAs," it said.

The demonetisation of higher value currency notes has affected normal banking activities including clearing of cheques. Besides, borrowers are unable to get payments from their creditors due to various restrictions including cash withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 per week, limiting their options to repay their dues.

DHFL Chief Executive Officer Harshil Mehta said, "It is a welcome move by the RBI as many customers have expressed their inability to repay dues in time because of ongoing demonetisation drive."

For many of them, EMIs are due in the first half of the

month, so the relaxation will help keep account standard even when the payment is not received, he said.

Neither borrowers' credit score is impacted negatively due to non-payment nor financial institutions have to make additional provisions for sub-standard account, he added.

(REOPENS DEL44) The RBI said it has received representation saying consequent upon withdrawal of the legal tender status of the existing Rs 500 and 1,000 notes, small borrowers may need some more time to repay their loan dues.

The central bank further said the additional time given should only apply to defer the classification of an existing standard asset as substandard and not for delaying the migration of an account across sub-categories of NPA. Loans sanctioned by banks to NBFC (MFI), NBFCs, Housing Finance Companies, and by State Cooperative Banks to DCCBs, it said, adding, the above guidelines will also be applicable to loans extended by District Cooperative Banks. (PTI)

RBI allows Rs. 50,000/week withdrawal from overdraft, cash credit accounts

The Reserve Bank further said the Rs. 50,000 withdrawals may be disbursed predominantly in Rs. 2,000 denomination bank notes.

Mumbai, Nov 21: Further relaxing cash withdrawal norms, the Reserve Bank today said overdraft and cash credit account holders can now withdraw up to Rs. 50,000 in a week.

Earlier, current account holders were allowed to

withdraw up to Rs. 50,000 in cash, in a week.

"On a review, it has been decided to extend this facility to Overdraft and Cash Credit accounts also," the central bank said.

Accordingly, holders of current/overdraft/cash credit

accounts, which are operational for the last three months or more, may now withdraw up to Rs. 50,000 in cash, in a week.

However, this enhanced limit for weekly withdrawal is not applicable for personal overdraft accounts.

The Reserve Bank further said the Rs. 50,000 withdrawals may be disbursed predominantly in Rs. 2,000 denomination bank notes.

The Government has taken several decisions to ease withdrawal restrictions for farmers, small traders, Group 'C' employees of Central Government including equivalent levels in the defence and para military forces, railways and CPSEs in the aftermath of the cancellation of the old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes as legal tender. (PTI)

Israeli technology to revolutionise diamond industry in India Tel Aviv, Nov 21 : An Israeli company has invented a machine, currently undergoing advanced large-scale testing in India, that it claims instantly grades the clarity of polished diamonds.

The new groundbreaking system is likely to be marketed from mid-2017 by Sarine Technologies which has offices in Surat and Mumbai and employs about 450 people.

The machine, which is currently undergoing advanced large-scale testing in India, can revolutionise the dia-

mond industry by bringing in more transparency and trust in the way the market operates.

"The system will simplify the clarity grading process and provide accurate and objective mapping of the polished diamond, enhancing consumer trust in each diamonds valuation," the companys spokesperson Tamar Brosh said.

It enables diamond manufacturers and traders to ensure that each individual stone is optimally valued for its ideal sales market, the company said.

The firm, well-known for its

earlier innovations like Galaxy and DiaMension that are widely used by manufacturers all over the world, has also developed advanced automated Sarine Colour evaluation technology with lab-grade accuracy that is also currently being tested in India.

"The technology will revolutionise the way the diamond industry and consumers perceive Clarity grading and transform the polished sourcing and sorting process," the companys CEO Uzi Levami said. (PTI)

the unbanked sections, may also moderate, it added. It, however, said there will be some pentup demand which can give an upside to growth starting the first quarter of the next fiscal. By acting on the demand side, the demonetisation move can help reduce inflation by up to 0.20 per cent over the next few months and make the case for a 0.25 per cent rate cut from RBI in first half of 2017 stronger, the brokerage said, adding there will not be a rate cut in the December 6 policy announcement.

On the fiscal side, there will be "windfall gains" if the move results in unearthing unaccountable

money from the system and will help to increase the proportion of direct tax revenues over indirect collections, it said.

But it did not quantify the fiscal gains. The brokerage was, however, quick to add that the estimates on blackmoney vary widely and there is a risk of overestimation in this assumption. It also said a slowdown in the passage of other key reforms including the goods and services tax in the ongoing Winter session is being hampered by the banknote reforms.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to discontinue Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. (PTI)

Pankaj Patel elected FICCI president for 2017

Image for representation purpose.

New Delhi, Nov 21 : People have exchanged and deposited over Rs 5.44 lakh crore worth of scrapped Rs 500/ 1,000 notes at different banks till November 18 following demonetisation of the higher denomination currency.

The banks also disbursed Rs 1,03,316 crore over the counter and via ATMs between November 10 and November 18, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement.

Consequent to the announcement of withdrawal of legal tender status of banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations from the midnight of November 8, 2016, the RBI had made arrangements for exchange and/or deposit of such notes.

The facility was available at the counters of the RBIand commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks.

"Banks have since re-

ported that such exchange/ deposits effected from November 10, 2016 up to November 18, 2016 amounted to Rs 5,44,571 crore (exchange amounted to Rs 33,006 crore and deposits amounted to Rs 5,11,565 crore).

"They have also reported that the public have withdrawn, during this period, Rs 1,03,316 crore from their accounts either over the counter or through ATMs," the statement said.

Long queues were witnessed on November 10, the day on which banks opened after announcement of demonetisation, as people thronged banks and post offices to exchange and deposit invalid currency notes. People also queued up at ATMs for cash withdrawal.

Meanwhile, government made several exceptions allowing people to use invalid currencynotes for buying petrol/diesel, rail and air tickets, payment of public utilities, taxes and government hospitals. (PTI)

Honda Cars ties up with banks to limit demonetisation impact

Zydus Cadila CMD Pankaj Patel.

New Delhi, Nov 21: Zydus Cadila CMD Pankaj Patel has been elected president of industry body FICCI for 2017 and will take over once the incumbent Ambuja Neotia Group Chairman Harshavardhan Neotia completes his term next month.

"Patel will take over from Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, during the FICCI Annual General Meeting to be held on 16 and 17 December," FICCI said.

Pankaj Patel is actively involved in various educational institutions and is on the advisory committees

and academic councils of several educational institutions such as Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, IISER, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, The Ahmedabad University and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.

Patel is the Executive Chairman, Vice President and Trustee of the Gujarat Cancer Society and Chairman of the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, a regional Cancer Centre and one of the largest of its kind in India. (PTI)

GST: Internal Revenue Service officers body wants Centre's control on service tax assesses

New Delhi, Nov 21: In order to limit the adverse impact of demonetisationon car sales, Honda Cars India has tied up with HDFC, Axis and ICICI Bank to provide up to 100% loan facility to its prospective customers.

The Japanese car maker's arrangement with the three leading banks includes ex-showroom and on-road funding for its various models.

"In the wake of demonetis ation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, there will be a big effect on the overall car buying process and the cash component buying is expected to go down.

Also, the margin money contribution will be affected for all customers," HCIL Senior Vice-President Sales and Marketing Jnaneswar Sen said.

To ease deal closure and give comfort to the customers, the company has negotiated 100% on road and ex-showroom funding deals with HDFC, Axis and

Honda Cars ties up with banks to limit demonetisation impact

ICICI Bank, he added.

The collaboration with the banks is intended to facilitate the car buyers in the currently prevailing circumstances, the company said.

"The collaborations would facilitate both the salaried, and the self-employed individuals and would cover all the models in the HCIL line-up and can be availed at all Honda dealerships across the country," it added.

The special retail finance offers from ICICI Bank include loans up to 100% of

ex-showroom prices of the models and 90% of the onroad prices.

The offers from HDFC include loan value equivalent to 100% of on-road prices of all Honda cars (except Honda CR-V) while Axis bank is offering up to 100% on road funding for 96 months at a salary of Rs 25,000 for all central government employees and beneficiaries of the pensioner scheme (under 7th pay commission).

HCIL sells a range of vehicles including Brio, Jazz, Amaze, Mobilio, City, BR-V and CRV. (PTI)

Asia-Pacific summit closes with call to work for free trade

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

New Delhi, Nov 21 : An association representing thousands of revenue service officers on Monday sought Centre's control over service tax assesses under Goods and Services Tax (GST) having turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore and raised concern over demand from few states, including West Bengal, of controlling them. In a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) officers' association apprehended rise in blackmoney and tax evasion if states are given control over such assesses.

Other than West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Odisha and also commercial tax officers working across the country under the state governments jurisdiction have also supported demands for control over service tax payers hav-

ing less than Rs 1.5 crore turnover. "The move towards GST is aimed at simplifying the tax structure, widening the tax base, reducing tax-evasion and incentivising the honest tax payers. It is supposed to be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders viz the taxpayers, Central and state government.

"The proposal for having divided control over the assesses with all assesse having revenue less than Rs 1.5 crore being monitored only by state government is in conflict with the very root and premise of having GST. It will lead to rampant tax evasion, confusion and chaos amongst assesses due to different interpretations of issues by different states from J&K to Kerala," it said. The association represents over 2,000 IRS officers. (PTI)

Lima, Nov 21: Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations ended their annual summit Sunday with a call to resist protectionism amid signs of increased freetrade scepticism, highlighted by the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum also closed with a joint pledge to work toward a sweeping new free trade agreement that would include all 21 members as a path to "sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," despite the political climate.

"We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism," the leaders of the APEC nations said in a joint statement.

APEC noted the "rising scepticism over trade" amid an uneven recovery since the financial crisis and said that "the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasising how trade promotes inno-

vation, employment and higher living standards."

Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the summit, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said the main obstacle to free trade agreements in Asia and around the world is the frustration felt by those left behind by globalization.

"Protectionism, in reality, is a reflection of tough economic conditions," said Kuczynski, the meeting's host.

Referring to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's election win in the U.S., he said those results highlighted the backlash against globalization in former industrial regions in the U.S. and Britain that contrasts with support for trade in more-prosperous urban areas and developing countries.

"This is an important point in recent economic history because of the outcome of various elections in very important countries that have reflected an anti-trade, anti-openness feeling," he

said.

This was the last international summit for U.S. President Barack Obama and he had been expected to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, a 12-nation trade deal. But he is no longer expected to seek ratification

by Congress before he leaves office because of the election victory by Trump, who called the agreement a "disaster" for jobs.

Obama told reporters that the way to address income inequality and to create jobs is through crafting trade policy and agreements like the TPP in ways that will increase exports to the Pacific Rim countries that make up a third of the world's population.

"When it comes to trade, I believe the answer is not to pull back," he said at his last overseas news conference.

"The answer is to do trade right, making sure it has strong labor standards, strong environmental standards - that it addresses ways in which workers and ordinary people can benefit rather than be harmed by global trade." (PTI)

cmyk

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

P12 India beat England by 246 runs, go 1-0 up in 5-match series

Mohammed Shami (C) celebrates with teammates the dismissal of England's Adil Rashid.

PTI Visakhapatnam, Nov 21: India today scripted a resounding 246-run win over England in the second cricket Test to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series riding on a superlative effort from the spin troika, here.

Chasing an improbable 405, England were bowled out for paltry 158 shortly after the lunch break to give the hosts their second biggest victory in terms of runs against the visitors.

Having defended doggedly on the fourth evening, the visitors caved in without much resistance losing eight wickets for an addition of 71 runs with Ravichandran Ashwin (3/ 52) and debutant Jayant Yadav (3/30) being the

South Africa official clashes with Australia reporter AFP Adelaide, Nov 21: A security official travelling with the South African team shoved an Australian television reporter against a glass door in ugly scenes as he attempted to interview captain Faf du Plessis Monday.

Du Plessis is due to face an International Cricket Council disciplinary hearing on ball tampering charges arising from the second Test against Australia in Hobart last week, and tensions with media are simmering.

Nine Network reporter Will Crouch was aggressively pulled away from the skipper as the team arrived at Adelaide airport ahead of the third and final Test this week, footage showed.

The journalist pushed back before he was shouldered away and into the door by a man Australian media said was Proteas security chief Zunaid Wadee.

Du Plessis was wearing headphones at the time of the altercation and reporters said he gave a thumbs-up to cameras moments before Wadee clashed with Crouch, who was unharmed.

Veteran batsman Hashim Amla lashed out at the reporter. "Disappointed.. such provocative behaviour from reporters. Let a man walk in peace. Ask with manners n courtesy and u prob will get a response," he tweeted Channel Nine said Wadee also had a run-in with one of its reporters in Melbourne over the weekend as he attempted to ask Du Plessis about the tampering issue.

The Proteas skipper allegedly had a sweet, or mint, in his mouth and rubbed saliva into the ball to get more swing during the Hobart match and is facing a one-match ban.

A hearing will be held by Andy Pycroft of the ICC match referees panel. The results will be announced in due course, the ICC said in a statement on Friday.

South Africa are chasing a firstever series whitewash in Australia when they go into Thursday's pink ball Test in Adelaide.

wreckers-in-chief at the Dr YSR Reddy ACAVDCA Stadium which hosted its first ever Test match.

Having showed some tenacity yesterday to bat out 59.2 overs with 87/ 2, England were blown away this morning and lost five wickets in 33.4 overs in the first session before India bowled them out for 158.

It took India 24 balls and 22 minutes passed lunch to cruise victory and take a 1-0 lead with more than a session to spare.

While skipper Virat Kohli's aggregate of 248 runs (167 and 81) laid the cornerstone of victory, the contribution of India's premier all-rounder Ashwin (52 runs and match figures of 8/119)

was equally significant.

Ashwin now has 231 wickets from 41 Tests apart from 1670 runs that includes 4 tons and 7 half-centuries.

Ashwin also became leading wicket-taker of 2016 with 55 wickets surpassing Sri Lankan Rangana Herath (54 scalps).

Not to forget young Jayant, who bowled a ripper to get Ben Stokes and played a couple of gritty knocks down the order.

He first trapped Stuart Broad (5) LBW, and then dismissed James Anderson for a golden duck in similar manner as England went for reviews but in vain.

Mohammed Shami (2/ 30) was menacing when

the ball reversed and Ravindra Jadeja did his bit in the second innings providing important breakthroughs.

When the final wicket fell, the celebrations were muted as Kohli just picked up a souvenir stump and shook hands with rival players.

It was a study contrast as the top three batsmen of Alastair Cook (54), Haseeb Hameed (25) and Joe Root (25) consumed 439 balls 73.1 overs - but the rest have fallen in a heap what can be termed as a meek surrender.

Earlier, Root had some lucky escape with Virat Kohli dropping the English No 3 on nine at leg slip and a decision was also overturned.

Finally, the first opening

came after 15 minutes into the day with Ashwin removing a tense-looking Duckett, who perished trying to play the sweep.

There was extra bounce but Duckett's shot selection did him in as the ball hit his gloves and hit the pad before looping into Wriddhiman Saha's gloves.

In a tense and tight situation, Root was adjudged caught behind by Rod Tucker but England successfully used the DRS as the decision was overturned after review.

Root, who was floored by Virat Kohli at leg slip on 9, again survived on with an addition of two runs as the snicko registered a faint mark and the third umpire was not convinced to dismiss Tucker's call.

Persisting with a tidy line and aiming the roughs, left-arm spinner Jadeja got his first wicket this morning dismissing Ali as his forward defensive prod saw him get an inside edge which was taken by Kohli at backward short leg.

The ball seemed to have bounced more than normal after hitting the edge of a widening crack.

Maintaining a fine over rate, Indian spinners ran through the opening hour bowling 20.4 overs and were quick to get the second new ball in 80 overs and get their exhausted reviews quota renewed.

Having made an impressive debut, Jayant Yadav struck with the new ball as he bowled a beauty to clean up Ben Stokes (6).

The delivery had a nice drift as it pitched on the middle stump with Stokes going for a backfoot defence. It spun enough to clip the off-bail in what was a tweaker's delight.

AIFF will bid for U-20 World Cup: Patel PTI Doha, Nov 21: All India Football Federation President Praful Patel has said that India will bid for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup in the next few years as part of its drive to further develop the game in the country.

India is hosting the Under-17 FIFA World Cup next year and Patel said the progress made and publicity gained since winning the rights to host the Under-17 global event for the first time will help in bidding for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup. "Under-17 World Cup next year will be the defining moment of Indian football. We have had intense focus on the Under-16 and Under-17 age-groups and will ensure the national team spends the next few years training and playing together," Patel said.

"They will give their best during the Under-17 World Cup next year and following the tournament we will bid for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. We have told the FIFA Competitions Committee that we are keen to host the event at the earliest available opportunity in 2019, and this will further give a boost to our

Praful Patel grassroots initiatives," the AIFF chief told website www.Sc.Qa. Patel said the hosting of FIFA Under-20 World Cup will help in facilitating the continued development of the next generation of Indian footballers.

He said India must ensure that 'right steps' were taken as it targets qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

"We will aspire towards qualifying for the 2022 World Cup because of the support our national team is going to receive and will need to ensure that right steps are taken towards realising this objective," said Patel, who is also an AFC Vice President.

"Many of the current Under-16 boys will be a well-knit group and will be ready for national team duty in time for the 2022

World Cup qualifiers, which will start around the same time.

"Indian football's further growth will be of direct long-term to Qatar football, including the successful hosting of the 2022 World Cup (by Qatar).

Patel said there has been a turnaround in the fortunes of Indian football and this can be attributed to the emphasis placed on youth scouting, and the investment flowing into sectors such as grassroots development, infrastructure building and refurbishment.

"There has been intense focus on these areas by the AIFF helped by the AFC. Corporates have started putting money into football over the last few years and this is starting to pay dividends," he said.

"The prime example is the

historic run of three-yearold club Bengaluru FC in the AFC Cup and the global appeal of the Indian Super League. Winning the Under-17 World Cup hosting rights has sparked the interest of the Indian government in the development of the sport.

"Bengaluru's historic feat of finishing as runner up in the AFC Cup and the fighting display of our Under-16 national team against traditional Asian powerhouses Saudi Arabia and UAE in September's AFC Under16 Championships in Goa have illustrated that Indian football has begun to find its feet again," said Patel.

He said he was impressed by the passionate support shown by Indian expatriate community of Doha to Bengaluru FC during the AFC Cup final.

"We believe Qatar are our natural partners in Asian football family and the AFC Cup final has illustrated this. Qatar has identified its Indian community as an important stakeholder of 2022 World Cup and more than 5,000 Indian expats were at the stadium to cheer Bengaluru FC's historic feat proving they are emotional stakeholders in Indian football as well.

Kohli praises bowlers for Test win against England

Virat Kohli celebrates Indian victory after James Anderson was declared out on day 5 of the second Test at Visakhapatnam on Monday.

PTI Visakhapatnam, Nov 21: Indian captain Virat Kohli on Monday heaped praise on his bowlers, especially debutant Jayant Yadav, for their contribution in the 246run win over England in the second cricket Test in Visakhapatnam.

Kohli said everything fell in place in both batting and bowling which made the victory possible after the draw in the first Test at Rajkot.

"It was lovely to have five bowlers who can pick up wickets. The biggest positives of this Test are how the fast bowlers bowled and Jayant's debut. He (Jayant) got one wicket in England first innings, scored some runs and then took another three wickets in second innings," Kohli said after India beat England by 246 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

"It's always priceless those contributions and

it speaks volumes of his character. For a young guy to come in and tell his captain the field he wants, the line and length he would bowl, it shows he knows what he is doing.

I'm really happy for him," said Kohli about Jayant who made his Test debut in this match.

Talking about his side's batting show, Kohli said, "A lot of people had questioned the team's performance at Rajkot. So we wanted to win this match.

We wanted to make sure we batted five sessions, get 450 plus, which is what we did. Then the bowlers were always on top. Scoreboard pressure really counts."

Kohli was adjudged man of the match for his 167 and 81 in the two innings and he talked about his special relation with this ground where he has always done well with the bat.

"It's been a lucky ground for me and it remains a special ground, similar feel

I get to Adelaide. You want to play exciting cricket because so many people come to watch.

They help you through tough situations," he said.

"There wasn't much happening in the wicket, but the batsmen succumbed.

I knew I was striking the ball well. It was tough but I thought I can take on the England bowlers before they apply pressure on us," Kohli said when asked about his two innings.

Asked what would be the approach of the team in the next three matches, he said, "We've been playing some really good cricket in the first two Tests . We don't want to be complacent but don't want to be desperate either. We respect England. We want to continue with this nice momentum. Our approach will be a right balance of not being desperate and not too much of relaxation."

NorthEast, Pune focussed to win in ISL IANS Guwahati, Nov 21: NorthEast United FC coach Nelo Vingada hasn't lost faith in his teams ability to win against FC Pune City in their Indian Super League (ISL) football encounter here on Tuesday despite a six-match run sans victory.

NorthEast have lost four of their last six matches, with only draws against Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata the only solace.

They are seventh in the standings with only 11 points from 10 matches.

But Vingada is confident they can turn the corner as they come up against Pune City at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Pune are fourth wih 15 points from 11 matches.

NorthEast set the pace early in the tournament with two back-to-back home victories against Kerala Blasters and FC Goa but lost their next three home games. They have two more games remaining at home and Vingada has no doubt they can upset calculations and qualify for the semi-finals.

"The most important thing is that NorthEast are still alive. We can play and beat any team. There is no doubt about that and the best thing is that NorthEast are coming back and I am very happy with the performance of the players. I still believe that we have a chance," said Vingada, as per an ISL release.

The eight teams in the tournament are placed so close to each other that a win will take them closer to semis qualification.

"If we can play this way, we can score the goals and you know better than me that last year Chennaiyin were almost out but played well in the last four games.

Even Goa can play well and qualify," said Vingada.

NorthEast though will have to tackle an inspired Pune, fresh from beating Delhi Dynamos.

Pune defeated Delhi 4-3 to climb to fourth and coach Antonio Habas believes the victory will help them navigate a tough run of away matches against NorthEast, Kerala Blasters and Atletico

de Kolkata.

"We are only thinking about NorthEast right now.

We have a huge travel coming up for us and very soon, we will have to focus on recovering. We aren't thinking about the semi-finals, so we will focus on NorthEast and prepare accordingly," said Habas.

Despite striking form after winning two of their last three matches, Habas is taking nothing for granted.

"You saw two games back we were out of contention but now we are playing well again and we are back on track. We need to remain in the top four. We have to maintain balance to achieve a positive result," said Habas.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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