8 december 2015, tuesday

facebook.com/easterntoday

@easterntoday

For business, mail at: md.easterntoday@gmail.com

cmyk

cmyk

www.eastern-today.com For your copy of The Eastern Today in Changlang please contact:

Ph. No.-08471896580/ 09402905002

ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. 1

Issue 183

Centre's enthusiasm for BCIM good news for Northeast

Dibrugarh, Tuesday, December 8, 2015

New Year to be full of startup policy for Indians

Page 9

Page 10

6 BJP, 9 Cong MLAs suspended from Assam Assembly A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Dec 7

ET CAPSULES COD temporarily suspended Khonsa, Dec 7: As reported

by DTDC Khonsa, the management of online purchased stuffs especially the COD (cash on delivery) items became difficult due to non cooperation by customers. They are found not responding to calls and not collecting their consignments even after repeated reminder calls thereby catering loss to the courier express. Hence DTDC Khonsa has temporarily suspended the COD (cash on delivery) services. However, the customers can opt for pre payment online and continue shopping at the same address without a fuss.

(Correspondent)

Jadav Chandra Deka leader of BJP Legislative Assembly along with Other BJP MLA coming out Legislative Assembly after Speaker suspend in the winter session of the Assam assembly at Dispur. Pic - UB photos

In a blow to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed their pleas challenging summons issued to them in the National Herald case in which they have to appear before the trial court on Tuesday. "Peti-

tions are dismissed," Justice Sunil Gaur said in his judgement while also declining another of their plea for exemption from personal appearance in the lower court. The Gandhis and the other five accused-Suman Dubey, Moti Lal Vohra, Oscar Fernandez, Sam Pitroda and Young India Ltd--will have to appear in the trial court on Tuesday, before which the case

Chennai floods: Amma announces Rs 10,000, 10 kg of rice, a sari and dhoti for victims

Apprehended

Tezpur, Dec 7: In a tragic road mishap, three members of a marriage party died on the spot last night at Balipara Patgaon area under Chardwar PS near here. Police sources said that a marriage party from Biswanath Chariali Kher-Bali area was on its way to Nowgaon for performing marriage on board a Maruti Artiga when it collided with a Balipara bound dumper bearing No. AS-12-C-0973 at Balipara Patgaon area on NH15 resulting in the death of three persons while five others sufferred serious injury including the groom. The deceased were identified as Susil Mandal, Hari Barman and Bhanu Saikia. The groom Papu Barman who sustained serious injury in the accident along with four others was rushed to the Tezpur Medical College.

(Correspondent)

Dhola-Sadia bridge Dommdooma, Dec, 5: "The bridge over river Brahmaputra which will connect Dholla and Sadia has been completed partly.

82 per cent of the work has been completed." Said Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Pon Radhakrishnan as part of a Lok Sabha reply.

Meanwhile, Rs 876 crore is the estimated cost for the project.

(Correspondent)

Social activist passes away

cmyk

Doomdooma, Dec 7: Gakul Sonowal, 93, social activist, noted academician and leader of Assam movement passed away on Saturday due to old age ailments. He was a resident of Dangri village. He is survived by wife and children.

Sonowal was actively associated with a good number of various socio-cultural organizations and had met and inspired by Kalaguru Vishnu Prasad Rabha, family sources said. His death has been widely mourned by various organizations. (Correspondent)

will come up. It also refused to extend the August 6, 2014 interim order by which the summons were stayed. "No," Justice Gaur said in response to oral pleas by senior advocate Harin Raval, appearing for the accused, that either an exemption from personal appearance be granted or the August 6, 2014 order staying the summons be extended. The court,

A army jawan carrying a child during the floods in Chennai.

IANS Chennai, Dec 7

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday announced a flood relief of Rs 10,000, 10 kg of rice, a sari and dhoti to those who lost their huts in the floods. For those who live in permanent houses and were affected, Rs 5,000, 10 kg of rice, a sari and dhoti would be supplied. Jayalalithaa said in a statement that 10,000 permanent houses will be allotted here and new houses will be constructed for those who lost their huts in the floods. According to her, those who lost

their livestock a compensation of Rs 10,000 (for loss of cows and buffaloes), Rs 3,000 (for loss of goats and pigs) and Rs 100 for loss of chicken would be paid. For damages suffered by farmers, Jayalalithaa ordered payment of Rs 13,500 per hectare if 33 percent and above paddy crops were lost and Rs 18,000 per hectare for long term crops. She said special camps for two weeks starting on December 14 will be held to issue duplicate land title deeds, educational certificates, cooking gas connection cards, Contd. on Page 4

Rubul Borgohain and Gitinjali Konwar Dutta of Smile Children Home, NGO, were allegedly arrested for sexually abusing the children of the NGO. Rubul worked as the superintendent while Gitanjali worked as home mother at the NGO. Police said that both were involved in the case. Naba Kumar Bora, Officer-in-charge of the

CHAMPS

India skipper Virat Kohli holds the Freedom Trophy after routing South Africa 30 at the Kotla today. Read full report on Page 12

Felicitation programme for promoted Forester held ET Correspondent Pasighat, Dec 7

In a small but befitting programme held here at Range Office of Pasighat Forest Range, under Pasighat Forest

Division, five recently promoted Foresters from Forest Guard were felicitated in the presence of Divisional Forest Officer Tabang Tamoh and other range staffs.

The programme was led by

3 arrested criminals involved in murder, extortion: SP ET Correspondent Sonepat, Dec 7

Abhishek Garg, SP Sonepat today claimed that three criminals including the gang leader Vikas alias Dudhia who were arrested yesterday, were involved in many a cases of murder, attempt to murder, vehicle loots and money extortion.

They have been taken into twoday police custody as sanctioned by the court today.

While addressing a press con-

ference here today, SP said that the gang leader Vikas alias Dudhia was allegedly involved in three cases of murder, six cases of attempt to murder, two cases of car loot at pistol point and some other cases during the last seven years, he committed two murder at Rohat and Bhadana villages in 2011 and a third murder in Daboda village in Jhajjar district in 2015, he added.

Contd. on Page 4

in its judgement, has also questioned the need for extending interest-free loan to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) the publishers of National Herald.

"Where was need to extend interest free loan," it said. The trial court had on June 26 last year summoned all the above accused to appear before it on August 7, Contd. on Page 4

Pages- 12

2,000 Delhi school students conduct 'largest practical science lesson'

Page 6

Arunachal Govt responds to fund non-release claims ET Bureau Itanagar, Dec 7

Refuting recent claims of Congress MLAs from Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) camping in New Delhi that there have been anomalies with regard to release or nonrelease of funds meant for their respective districts by the ruling Government led by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, the State Government has said that those allegations are totally false.

Meanwhile, Minister Tirong Aboh stated that a total of Rs. 44305.09 lakhs has been released for these three districts under NEC, NLCPR, SPA and RIDF apart from the normal

DoTCL funding and non plan funding during RE stages. Further adding that no previous government had ever gone for extensive planning and transparent funding than the present government headed by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki. “The development activities and the funding pattern are in the public domain and can be viewed by anyone on the official web portal of the state planning department. Therefore, neglecting these three districts under the leadership of present CM is misleading and is an attempt to shift the responsibility of vested interest law makers of the districts.” The release said adding that the sincere commit-

ment of Nabam Tuki can be reflected in the recent budget wherein the allocation of DOTCL has been increased from 25 Cr to 40 Cr rupees.

While responding to the 12 Cr fund budgeted for DoTCL having been allegedly retained by the CM, the release said that it is totally false as the said project was to be funded under RIDF as announced in the budget and further added that on the request of the HMLAs from the region as it was discussed in the State development Council meeting, the project is being funded from the state plan on receipt of feasible project proposals from the three districts.

Help for Chennai flood affected students, patients of Arunachal ET Bureau New Delhi, Dec 7

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has deputed Kesang Ngurup Damo, Deputy Resident Commissioner, Arunachal Bhavan, New Delhi to immediately rush to Chennai to attend to the flood affected students, pa-

tients and other community members of Arunachal Pradesh presently residing in Chennai city. Damo will assess the situation and co-ordinate with the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide required assistance and relief to the affected students and other members from Arunachal Pradesh in Chennai.

The Chief Minister has assured to provide all possible help and support to the affected students pursuing different educational courses and patients undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Chennai. Parents and relatives may contact Damo at his mobile number: 09560559917 for any query.

Duo arrested for alleged Delong Padung won hearts Indian sexual harassment Ministry of Culture confers "Ustad A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 7

Doomdooma, Dec 7: Two linkmen of the banned outfit ULFA(I), namely Abhijit Moran (31) and Shanta Moran (30) have been apprehended by a team of Assam regiment personnel on Sunday at Missimikata under Talap outpost which falls under Doomdooma police station. Meanwhile, further investigation has been initiated.

(Correspondent) Three die in road mishap

BJP’s six MLAs and nine Congress MLAs who recently announced their decision to join the party were all suspended.

The strength of the Assembly is 126. Earlier, when the House assembled, BJP MLA Jadav Chandra Deka demanded scrapping of the Question Hour and holding of a discussion on the “deteriorating law and order situation” in the state. “The law and order situation is deteriorating day by day. Hindi-speaking people are being tortured and Jehadi activities are on rise. Allow us to discuss the issues by today itself,” Deka said. When the Speaker did not accept his demand, all BJP MLAs stood up and shouted in support of their demand. Immediately, Contd. on Page 4

HC dismisses pleas of Gandhis in National Herald case Agencies New Delhi, Dec 7

5.00

Rivers of liquor drag youth into whirlpool of self-destruction

Page 8

The Congress government in Assam today came under massive attack from the opposition parties. This is after the six BJP MLAs and nine from Congress, who had recently declared their allegiance to the opposition party, were suspended from Assam Assembly for the 5-day Winter Session on Monday by Speaker Pranab Gogoi for disobeying his ruling and creating noisy scenes.

Just before the beginning of the Question Hour on the first day of the session, the Speaker gave the ruling that all the BJP members and those from Congress supporting it, have been suspended from the House for the entire Winter Session.

Price -

Range Officer, Osar Gao being coordinated by Range Officer (probationer) Moralali Range, Jumgo Geyi.

Contd. on Page 3

Dibrugarh police station said that Dr Gitimallika Gogoi of Juvenile Justice Board member filed an FIR following which they have arrested the duo from the Chiringchopori area. Police said when Gitimallika was on a visit at the NGO, some of the children reported the incident to her.

She had visited the NGO with the view to motivate the children and teach them drawing.

A case no. 1010/15 under section 6/17 protection of chil-

dren from sexual offences act, 2013 was registered at Dibrugarh police station. In the wake of the complaint, police along with magistrate visited the NGO and enquired into the incident. Officer-incharge of Dibrugarh police station said that eight girls of the NGO said they have been sexually exploited by the Rubul Borgohain for the past one year. Police said, tomorrow, both of them would be sent for medical.

Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar" Pasighat, Dec 7

Renowned Arunachalee singer, lyrist, music composer and director and chreographer Delong Padung walked at the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan hall, Agartala, Tripura today to receive the National Award, sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (GoI) for his notable talent in the field of Folk Music of Arunachal

New deal with 14th National Conference of TMPK Centre likely concludes successfully at Dhakuakhana in six months: ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Dec 6

ULFA leader

The four day long program of 14th National Conferenmce of Takam Mishing Porin Kebang (TMPK) concluded yesterday with a grand success turning the BA Charu Chandra Doley Lotta a plate form of integrated struggle for the safety of Assam and theAssamese.

On the concluding day the Final Events of games and sports were held from 9am.

Contd. on Page 4

IANS New Delhi, Dec 7

The Sonowal Kachari Young boys & girls performing Sonowal Kachari Bahuwa Bihu dance in the 14th general conference of TMPK on last day at Kherkota in Dhakuakhana sub-division. Pic - UB Photos

Sushma’s visit to focus on resumption of composite dialogue, says Sartaj Aziz ANI Islamabad, Dec 7

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday said the deadlock in Indo-Pak ties had

eased to some extent and he is looking forward towards the bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj which would focus on the resumption of composite dialogue process.

“Sushma Swaraj is coming here tomorrow and we will have a bilateral meet. The good thing is that the deadlock for our negotiation has ended.

Contd. on Page 4

13% growth in India’s adspends next year: Zenith Optimedia Mumbai, Dec 7

Leading media agency network Zenith Optimedia sees advertising expenditure in India growing 13% in 2016 led by spend on television. In its growth forecast for the year, the agency said television adspend would grow 15% and print –newspapers – 10%.

Contd. on Page 10

Pradesh. Worth to mention here that the Sangeet Natak Akademi was established by the Government of India on 31 May 1952, is the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. It was created as the apex body in the country for the task of preservation and promotion of the performing art tradition of India.

Contd. on Page 3

ADSPEND GROWTH FORECAST Leading media agency network Zenith Optimedia sees advertising expenditure in India growing 13% in 2016 led by spend on television.

In its growth forecast for the year, the agency said television adspend would grow 15% and print – newspapers – 10%.

Digital is expected to grow upwards of 20%, while all other media are expected to grow 5-10%.

With ad spends growing at double-digit annual rates here, Zenith Optimedia expects the market to expand by $3 billion between 2015 and 2018.

Globally, Zenith Optimedia predicts ad expenditure will grow 4.7% next year to touch $579 billion, a 0.8 percentage point improvement over 2015.

Audiovisual advertising will account for a record 48.4% of display advertising in 2015, up from 44.1% in 2010, and its share can be expected to reach 48.9% in 2018.

The ongoing tripartite peace process among the protalk faction of ULFA, Assam government and the Centre is likely to see a new agreement being signed in six months, a senior ULFA leader said.

"Our peace process is going on very smoothly. Recently we have had nice talks with the central government and there are no differences as of now... we have mutually agreed on several issues. We are likely to see a solution in the next six months," Raju Baruah, a senior member of ULFA`s pro-talk faction, told IANS. Emphasising on the need to include deported ULFA leader Anup Chetia in the peace process, Raju Baruah, the former deputy commander-in-chief of the outfit, said Chetia would join the peace talks once his judicial custody is over.

Chetia was sent to 14 days` judicial custody by a special court in Guwahati. He will be produced in the court again on December 9. Stating that the pro-talk faction of ULFA has also given a time frame to complete the peace talks within the time, Raju Baruah said: "We are almost sure that we will complete the peace talks in a very short duration."

cmyk

Raj Communications Near SBI bank Changlang

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

DMU rail to be introduced in January next year ET Correspondent Doomdooma, Dec 7: Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) rail services will be introduced by the North East Frontier Railway in the upcoming new year from January in the Makum-Dangri section of the historic Dibru-Sadia Railway line which was the first railway line in the state set up by the Assam Railway & trading company in 1889, said Anit Daulat, Divisional Railway Manager of Tinsukia Railway Division in the presence of a four-member delegation of the Makum Saikhowa (Sadia) Railpath Suraksha Samiti (MSRSS). The president of MSRSS is Buddha Deori and Secretary Dhiren Deka. The delegation met with the DRM at his office and submitted an aide memoir. Later the secretary Dhiren Deka informed the scribes here that there would be six passenger boggies with two engines one at each end in the proposed DMU train. The coaching yard of Old Tinsukia Railway Junction is constructing the required infrastructure to introduce this New Railway Transport System. He also assured the delegation that the

Doomdooma Railway Station would soon be reopened and passenger reservation system would also be introduced. He further mentioned about taking proper steps for eviction of illegal encroachment at Borhapjan Doomdooma and Rupai Siding besides taking measures to protect the Railway properties at Talap. The delegation demanded shifting of the Talap railway station from its present site to Talap Bazaar area for the greater convenience of the passengers. Besides, the delegation also appealed with regard to making necessary arrangement for notifying a scheduled halt of the Tinsukia Dangri passenger train at Talap Bazaar. It also sought the extension of the railway line from Dangari to Saikhowa (5.683), which was sanctioned in the 2012 Rail Budget. The DRM assured the delegation of apprising the higher authorities about the demands. It is noteworthy that the Makum Dangri section was converted into broad gauge in 2002. Since then only one passenger train has been plying between Tinsukia and Dangri once a day excluding Sunday.

World Soil Day celebrated at KVK, Sonitpur ET Correspondent Tezpur, Dec 7: In tandem with rest of the world, World Soil Day was celebrated with a day long programme at Napam based Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Tezpur on 5th December. Talking to this correspondent, programme coordinator of the KVK, Sonitpur Dr. PC Deka said that on this day soil protection received a global impetus due to the declaration of

the year 2015 as the international year of soil by UNO to create massive awareness on sustainable soil health management. In this connection an awareness camp was held at KVK campus for distribution of soil health cards among farmers. “Rajen Borthakur, MLA, Tezpur constituency attending the programme as chief guest stressed on soil test based fertilizer application and the

KLNLF observes 17th martyr’s day ET Correspondent Diphu, Dec 7: “Struggle of Karbi Longri NC Liberation Front (KLNLF) for separate state comprising Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao would continue and everyone should extend their support towards the cause”, said Karbi traditional king Harsing Ronghang at the 17th National Hero Martyr’s Day observed by the organization at Taralangso, Karbi People’s Hall Ground in the KLNLF designated camp.

The KLNLF decommissioned its arsenal in 2011 and came over ground offering peace process for a separate state and since then the organization has been continuing discussion with Centre on

statehood issue. The KLNLF is insisting creation of the state within the provision of Article-3 of the Indian Constitution. On the martyr’s day leaders of the organization paid rich tribute to their departed leaders and cadres.

KLNLF has concluded 21 years of existence and held at least 32 rounds of talks with the Centre. Karbi king Harsing Ronghang, on the occasion, said everyone should have a sense of responsibility and care towards one’s land and territory. King Ronghang said, “Our land is being encroached upon by people from neighbouring districts and people are insecure we are not united and not willing for the cause to

India’s 3rd internet gateway ready to start operations Agartala, Dec 7: The third international internet gateway in Agartala is all set for inauguration which will take place after finalization of the schedule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart.

Bangladesh's lone submarine cable operator, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), has already connected 10 GBPS bandwidth with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) cable last week at the Akhaura integrated checkpost.

A four-member delegation of Bangladesh Telecom Company Ltd (BTCL) and top of-

ficials of its Indian counterpart, BSNL, held a review meeting in Agartala on Saturday about the project followed by technical testing, said a BSNL official here.

Technically, the internet gateway is ready and is giving the expected results in signal test in Agartala. However, there are a few administrative procedures still left to begin the operations, the official added.

According to reports, BTCL and BSNL authorities have invited prime ministers of respective countries to formally launch the gateway sometime in December. But the date is yet to be finalized

programme was also attended by the officials from district agriculture department, KVK scientists, office bearers of local bodies and NGO members. A total of 253 soil health cards were also distributed on the day.”

He said adding that efforts are on to distribute more such cards under the soil health card program visualized by the central government.

by both the countries.

The ministry of telecommunication has been prioritizing the project to strengthen telecom network in the northeast and eastern India to bring investments in information technology. Moreover, the digital India initiative of the present government has also increased the pressure on existing international gateways in Chennai and Mumbai.

A third internet gateway becomes essential for India to ensure connecting all localities, services, amenities and individuals into the telecom network under Digital India initiative.

India and Bangladesh signed

the agreement to boost a strong telecom network in Southeast Asia in June this year and BSCCL has agreed to lease out its bandwidth for India, said a BSNL official.

The internet highway of submarine cable from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh has been connected to BSNL cable at Akhaura checkpost.

Though BSNL has completed the lane laying work on the Indian side, it is waiting for equipment to customize the benefits for subscribers. Union IT minister Ravishankar Prasad laid the foundation of the Rs 19.1crore project in July this year in Agartala.

protect our land and territory, and this has led to exploitation by others. We follow different religions, but for the sake of our own land customs, we should unite’’. Earlier the president of Karbi Lammet Amei Sikari Tisso said that there are many issues and problems that need to be settled for the protection of identity, land, language and culture. “The state government is trying to wipe out tribal communities by bringing out different policies and we should fight for our rights jointly,” he said. Chairman P Dilli, general secretary Thong Teron, publicity secretary Rijak Dera and home secretary Phulak Teron and others attended the programme in the morning.

Anantnag: Five jawans injured as militants attack CRPF convoy Srinagar, Dec. 7: Militants opened fire on a CRPF convoy in Bijbehara in Anantnag district here in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, injuring five jawans. Last month unidentified militants had hurled grenades on a CRPF party at Drangbal on the national highway in Pampore injuring two jawans and two civilians. (ANI)

Mohilary-BJP alliance may jeopardize UPF prospects ET Correspondent Diphu, Dec 7: BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary’s newfound political ally BJP may seriously jeopardize the prospects of newly formed tribal political front of Assam, the UPF (United Peoples Front); feel a number of political pundits of the tribal dominated autonomous Katbi Anglong district. The amalgamation of several regional political parties from tribal belts of

Turkey fumes over Russian 'rocket launcher' picture London, Dec. 7: Turkey has reacted furiously to a picture showing a Russian serviceman allegedly holding up a rocket launcher in firing position as his ship passes through Turkish waters. The picture which was published by the Hurriyet Daily News showed the man with the rocket launcher on his shoulder on the deck of the vessel of Caesar Kunikov as it passed through the Bosphorus strait. "The showing off of a missile by a soldier on a Russian warship, or other things such as anti-aircraft weapons, is pure provocation," the newspaper quoted the Turkey Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying. Russia and Turkey have been at loggerheads ever since a Russian fighter jet was downed by Ankara as it allegedly violated its airspace while flying over Syria. One of the pilots, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was killed and copilot Captain Konstantin Murakhtin managed to hide from Syrian rebels for 24 hours before being rescued.

Marine Alexandr Pozynich was killed during the course of the rescue operation.

(ANI)

Assam formed the United Peoples Front in the month of September this year where leaders like Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, Dr. Ronoj Pegu, and Chiefs of several ethnic tribal autonomous councils united under the umbrella of UPF. The party began its journey with a massive public rally at Dokmoka attended by Hagrama Mohilary and a galaxy of tribal political leaders of Assam and an-

nounced the ouster of Congress from power and the key role the UPF will play in the coming assembly poll. Tilting of apex Bodo leadership towards BJP is supposedly bound to polarize cohesive Bodo votes considered as ‘deciding factor’ spread across both Howraghat and Diphu assembly constituencies while brightening the prospects of BJP with BJP already in an advantageous

position due to massive shift of plank from Congress towards the saffron party. “If the united tribal political front sides with BJP whether under the leadership of Mohilary or any other it will be very much effective in the poll bound hill districts of Assam and at the end may marginalize Congress. The party captured more than 2 lakh votes in the last parliamentary election to

edge past the totally unorganized BJP in the hills but since then nearly 60 thousand Congress activists have shifted plank while BJP is well organized under the best Congress leaders who are leading the BJP from front in the hills, so the last political development may prove quite detrimental for Congress in tribal autonomous region,” said a political veteran on condition of anonymity.

List of hospitals in Dibrugarh with contact details & phone numbers, Assam Aditya Diagnostics & Hospitals Bordoloi Avenue, Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2302219, 2302225

G M Hospital

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

AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005

Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital

Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital

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

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

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

Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2303448, 2303458, 2301904

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

ASTRO FOR YOU A new acquaintance will make you feel happy today. You must remember that things don’t have to be expressed explicitly; a word or a song from deep within can make a bigger impact. Today is the right time to do something which will be more rewarding in the long-term.

Chaos will reign supreme as unexpected things occur and expected ones are missed out on. Luck will favour you and nothing is powerful enough to hamper you other than you own thoughts. You will dodge any trouble that is headed your way and escape easily, much to the embarrassment of others.

You will feel the need to pursue your passions today. You will give more time to your family and will spend as much time as possible with your children and will bestow your love and affection on them. You will be in an imaginative and romantic mood today. You need to harness your creativity into creating opportunities for yourself.

At work, your ability to forge great partnerships will see to the success of one of your ambitious projects. However, you need to be careful before signing the contract. It’s always important to go through the finer details of a deal before closing it.

Financial gains will make you happy today. You will have the opportunity to participate in social functions. All your work will get completed as per schedule. You will be able to channel your energy effectively.

You are born with a talent for business. Your organisational skills too are flawless. Use all your creativity, innovative ideas and ability to motivate others to make progress in your business. Ganesha says you may freely express yourself and make full use of your sharp judgement.

You will be very active today, especially when it comes to finishing tasks in office. Your thoughts will reach new heights and you will be able to motivate and stimulate others to perform. Your motto for the day is ‘Arise, awake and sleep not till the goal is reached’.

Your close friends and loved ones seem to be on the menu today. Romantic brilliance will usher in happiness and favourable business prospects will be the icing on the cake. Your charm will peak and you will enjoy the attention you get out of it. Try your hands at creative things as there is a good chance that you may come home bragging about the results.

Be ready with you bags packed as you may decide to undertake an impromptu trip today. It could be a business trip or simply travel in pursuit of pleasure. Nostalgia will grip you as you run into an old childhood friend today. Sharpen your public relation skills, which will come in handy when you deal with strangers today.

Pain and fun, both are the two sides of a coin and today, you will experience both of them in equal amount. You may have to slog yourself to earn money, but be careful and don’t drain yourself out. You will get what you have wished for, however, you need not try your luck too much. Spend money for the happiness of others.

Today will be about pleasure and pain! Plumbing, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking… you can expect anything to weigh you down. Later, you can relax in a hot soak by candlelight, or unwind with a soothing aromatic massage. You’ll be grateful for the pleasures only after the pain.

The focus today is on touching base with your near and dear ones. It is likely that you will renew some old associations in a social function, or in matters related to business. You are likely to surge ahead of your competitors when it comes to work related matters.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

8-12-15 (TUESDAY)

Assam Medical College

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

Villagers of Majghat carrying harvested paddy on boat following lack of proper mean of communication in Narayanpur. Pic - UB Photos

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

Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital Dibrugarh

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

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-50 A.M-Tokari Geet 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Song) 12-15 P.M-Teachers' Broadcast 12-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Ei Path Hoise Bikashor" 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Chah Shramikar Aasor 8-00 P.M-Bijnan Jeuti (Science Magazine Programme)-Talk-"DNA Meramoti Prajukti-Eti Bishleshon" by Dr. Jitumoni Bora 9-30 P.M-Sahitya Kanan (Literary Magazine Programme) 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

DC visits Dambuk ADC Headquarters Roing, Dec 7: The Deputy Commissioner of Lower Dibang Valley District, Ravi Dhawan, IAS visited the remote Dambuk ADC Headquarters on Saturday last.

During his interaction with the public leaders at PWD Inspection Bungalow, Dambuk, DC enquired about the availability of PDS Rice and regarding the functioning of Hospitals, Medical Sub-Centres, Schools, Mid-Day Meals and Anganwadi Centres under Dambuk Sub-Division. He requested the PRI leaders of the area to regularly visit the schools, Medical subcentres and Anganwadi centres in the villages falling within their segment and to see that they are functioning regularly.

He asked them to report

to the district administration in writing, if any irregularities are found.

Deputy Commissioner visited the Community Health Centres, Kasturba Gandhi Girls School at Remi Village, newly constructed SDO Office building, NGO-run 50 bedded Residential Hostels for Girls student and also inspected the Orange Festival Ground at Akoko Village and the Artist Camp at Bomjir Village where the preparation for the forthcoming Orange Festival is going on in full swing.

He was accompanied by Atul Tayeng, ADC Dambuk, Mijum Lego, DDSE Roing, Kago Robu, EE WRD, Eving Yirang, CO Dambuk, Rakesh Tacho, CO Roing among others.

(DIPRO)

Dambuk Orange Festival of adventure and music Dambuk, Dec 7: The preparation for 2nd Edition of Orange Festival for Adventure and Music is going on in full swing at lovely land of juicy orange at Dambuk. The four day festival, one of the calendar event of the state govt, will begin with the flagging off by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Tuki on December 15 next amidst the Orange Garden at Akoko Village of Dambukwhich, is said to be the first Adventure cum Music Festival of its kind in the country. The Orange Festival though began with a small note last January is returning this December with lots of music and tons of adventure sports to blow one’s mind. The Bungee Jumping from some 120 ft height from the ground level at Dibang River Bridge will be the first of its kind in the North East Region. The offroading championship

by JK Tyres Orange 4x4 is probably offering the highest paid offroading championship in the country with

DC Inspecting the Orange Festival site at Akoko Village, Dambuk. competition in the Quad Category (Polaris) in which about 40 participants from across the country are expected to take part so far.

Some of the best competitors of the country like Gerari Offroaders from Chandigarh, Boda Offroaders from Bangalore and various Teams from North East are participating in the 4 x 4 offroading

championship. Apart from these, many adventure sports like Ziplining, All Terrain Vehicle Rides, River Rafting & Angling at Dibang River, Forest Pain balling and many more are awaiting this season to get your adrenalin racing. For the music lovers, more than 20 best bands from across the country are taking part in this Orange Festival for

Tripura Governor, Tathagata Roy in presence of Shekhar Sen, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademy (GoI), presented the "Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, 2013-14," to Padung at a glittering function in recognition of his remarkable contributions in the field of Folk Music of Arunachal Pradesh. The award comprizes Memento, Citation and twenty-five thousand cash.

Born on 4th May in Rayang village, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, Delong Padung has inherited his love of the folklore of Arunachal Pradesh from his forefathers. Master in History, Padung also completed Bachelors of Education

and Mass Communication and Journalism. He has performed folk music on several important occasions in and outside the state such as Arunachal Festival (2014), Srhad O Swaranjali (Itanagar, 2013), Pasighat Centenary (2011) and also

bagged first position in Pratishruti a tele-competition for NE Doordarshan. Recently in 2014, he participated in Adi tribe documentary, sponsored by Vashali Trust, Mumbai. The young singer/composer holds the key to a brilliant career in music. Be-

sides sixteen local languages, Padung also sang in Assamese and Mising songs. Recently he has been inducted as a member of the National Expert Committee for the fellowship scheme for folk traditional and indigenous art. Padung has established Karpung Karduk Akademi in his native village Rayang to promote traditional and Indigenous art. In his brilliant career, Padung has received numerable awards that include State Award by Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Commendation Certificate by the East Siang Deputy Commissioner and was honoured by Adi Bane Kebang for his meritorious service in the field of Culture and Entertainment.

(DIPRO)

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY LAKHIMPUR : NORTH LAKHIMPUR

Contd. from Page 1

While felicitating the newly promoted Foresters, DFO T. Jamoh said to the awardees that, "this

is not a mere promotion of position, but an elevation of responsibility to which you have to stand for and do the best duty for which you are here in

Dated, 04-12-2015 Application are invited from the eligible candidates, who are Citizens of India as defined in Article 5 and 6 of the Constitution of India, in Standard From as published in Part-IX of the Assam Gazette with self-attested copies of all testimonials in support of their educational and other qualification including experience for filling up a temporary vacant post of Upper Division Assistant under the office of the District Legal Services Authority, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur.

Sl. No.

Name of the post UDA (Upper Division Assistant)

1

No. of Post to Selection criterion Scale of Pay with Grade Pay be filled up 01 (One)

Oral Interview/ Viva Voce

PB-1, Rs.5,200/- to Rs. 20,000/Grade Pay Rs. 2,900/-

v The Candidate must have rendered more than 5 years of service as Lower Division Assistant in any Govt. department as on 01-01-2015. v The applicants should submit their applications through proper channel with no objection certificate from his/her employer along with copies of their last 5 years ARC, Vigilance Report, Service Report (Book) and other required testimonials within 15 days from the date of publication of this advertisement. v The applicant should have knowledge in Computer operation and Accounting . v One self-addressed envelope of 5 cm * 11 cm affixing postal stamp of Rs. 5/- ??(Five) only is to be enclosed with the application along with MOBILE NUMBER, if any. v Date of Interview/Viva-Voce will be informed to the candidates later on. v Incomplete applications will be rejected without assigning any reasons. No applications will be entertained after the last date fixed. v In case of non receipt of calling letters, the candidates may collect their call letters from the office of the District & Sessions Judge, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur during office hours. v The candidates shall have to appear in the interview/ Viva-Voce test at their own expenses as and when called for.

District & Sessions Judge Cum- Chairman, Dist. Legal Services Authority Lakhimpur; North Lakhimpur.

the service". DFO Jamoh and RO Gao felt that, these promoted foresters will be sincere in their duty while discharging their responsibilities. The

promoted Foresters were Tasap Talom, Okep Danggen, Tabang Gaduk, Tahup Mize and Tabing Saroh. All of them are of 1986 batch.

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY LAKHIMPUR : NORTH LAKHIMPUR ADVERTISEMENT Dated, 04-12-2015 Application are invited from the eligible candidates, who are Citizens of India as defined in Article 5 and 6 of the Constitution of India, in Standard From as published in Part-IX of the Assam Gazette with self-attested copies of all testimonials in support of age, education, caste, experience, if any, along with 2 (two) copies of recent passport size photographs for filling up the following post under the office of the District Legal Services Authority, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur.

Sl. No.

Name of the post

1

LDA (Lower Division Assistant)

No. of post to be filled up

Required Qualification

Selection criterion

02

The candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a UGC recognized University having knowledge in Computer is preferable

Written Test/Oral Interview

(Two)

ADVERTISEMENT

in one of the oldest Adi village at Bomjir located some 13 km from Dambuk ADC Headquarters, is being built.

The Artist Village consists of some 19 local huts and some 20 tents for accommodation of artists and riders.

Villagers are very enthusiastic about the festival and ready to offer home stay in the traditional houses for the guests (free of cost), which is another new concept introduced in the festival. Besides all these, local dishes, exhibition stalls of local crafts and handlooms will be displayed in the festival ground. The Orange Festival is being sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh and supported by J K Tyres, Decathlon, Mountain Dew, MTV Indies, District Administration of Lower Dibang Valley District and the Indian Army.

One can get the details of this Orange Festival in the w e b s i t e www.orangefestivaldambuk.com.

(DIPRO)

Felicitation programme for promoted Forester held

Delong Padung won hearts Indian Contd. from Page 1

Adventure and Music at Dambuk. Some of the renowned artists are legendary American singersongwriter Joseph Arthur, Grammy Award Nominee Lama Tashi, the fantabulous Lou Majaw and many more bands. This will be added colours by the cultural troupes from four local communities of the district namely, Adi, Idu Mishmi,

Galo and Mishings. The organizing committee have a concept of involving one more tribe from the state (apart from the local tribes of the district) in this music festival and this year a cultural team from Monpa Tribe will be participating in the event. In addition to Adventure and Music, Indian Army will also participate and put up a stall to display weapons with the slogan Know Your Army and to add to the fun Indian Army will be organised a replica of army training set up for trail running and endorse Jungle Obstacles Course for public participation. The first woman Everester from the North East, Tine Mena who hails from Lower Dibang Valley District will be roped in for live talks on mountaineering and she will also lead the hiking to the Orange Orchards and the nearby hills and the participants will get a certificate duly signed by her. An Artist Village at Jagtum Notko, amidst the century old Jackfruit Trees

Category

Scale of Pay with Grade Pay

UnreservedPB-1, 02 Rs.5,200/to Rs.20,200/Grade Pay Rs. 2,200/-

v Applicants must be an Indian citizen. v The Applications should be addressed to the District & Sessions Judge, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur

during the office hours within 15(Fifteen) days from the date of publication of this advertisement. v The name of the candidates must be registered with any of the Employment Exchange of the State of Assam. v Age limit of the posts is not less than 18 years and not more than 38 years of age as on 01-01-2015; the upper age limit will be relax able by 5 years for SC, ST (P) and ST (H) candidates as per rules. v One self-addressed envelope of 5 cm x 11 cm affixing postal stamp of Rs. 5/- (Five) only is to be enclosed with the application along with MOBILE NUMBER, if any. v Applicants those, who are already in service should submit their applications through proper channel with no objection certificate from his/her employer. v Candidates having experience in Judicial/Legal works with requisite qualification as stated above shall be given due weight age. v The applicants whose applications are found in order will be called for Written Test to be held at a place and date to be notified later on, after which the qualifying candidates in the Written test will be further called for Computer Skill Test/Viva-voce/Oral Interview. v In case of non receipt of calling letters, the candidates may collect their call letters from the office of the District & Session Judge, Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur w.e from 01-01-2016 to 08-02-2016 during office hours. v List of eligible candidates for Written test, the date, time and venue will be notified in official NOTICE BOARD and the same also be uploaded in the official website http://lakhimpurjudiciary.gov.in. v The appointees will be governed by the contributory New Pension Rules introduced by the Govt. of Assam. v Incomplete applications will be rejected without assigning any reasons. No applications will be entertained after the last date fixed. v Canvassing directly or indirectly will disqualify the candidature. v No TA and DA will be entitled for appearing in the Written Test/ Interview.

District & Sessions Judge Cum- Chairman, Dist. Legal Services Authority Lakhimpur; North Lakhimpur.

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Thousands throng Babu Puja ET Correspondent Doomdooma, Dec 7: The famous Babu Puja was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety at Saikhowa's Kesakhati Than (Aai Than) which falls under Doomdooma revenue circle. The devotees from all over Assam from Dhubri to Sadia and neighbouring states arrived to perform Puja in great numbers here in the month of Aaghon which generally falls in the month of December every year. The devotees from far off lands started arriving at midnight

to line up for Puja. It is noteworthy that during the reign of Chutia king, the sacrifice custom had begun. It is believed that since then the tradition to sacrifice animals in the name of Puja began here.

Even today a thousand people sacrificed goose, ducks, pigeons, hens and goats. According to sources, at least three thousands ducks and a hundred goats were sacrificed. With thousands of devotees, the number of devotees were more than the last year.

NSS, Tezpur College unit observes Constitution Day ET Correspondent Tezpur, Dec 7: The NSS unit of Tezpur College recently observed the Constitution Day at its conference hall. The event presided over by the principal of the college Dr. Saru Saharia Nath was graced by HoD, Political Science, Tezpur College, Dr. Pranjit Hazarika, Associate professor, Department of History, Tezpur College, Prof. Devi Charan Gautam, HoD, Department of Assamese, Tezpur College Dr. Ranjan Kalita among others and attended by about 100 students of the college. Attending the event as chief speaker, Dr. Nath spoke about various aspects of constitution formation and the importance of the Indian constitution. He eloquently discussed the process of Indian constitution formation, changes and amendments since its inception. Associate professor, Department of History, Tezpur College,

Prof. Devi Charan Gautam in his speech spoke on the formation of Indian constriction with a historical perspective outlining in detail how various aspects of constitution of other countries were beautifully imbibed in the Indian constitution.

On the other hand, on behalf of the teaching staff, Dr. Ranjan Kalita, HoD, Department of Assamese, Tezpur College urged the students to know more about the Indian constitution. Echoing the same, Dr. Saru Saharia Nath spoke in detail about the Indian constitution, its importance and the contribution of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedakar in the formation of the Constitution.

Bhanupriya Daimary, Associate professor, Department of Political science subsequently offered vote of thanks. Earlier, programme officer, NSS Unit Tezpur College, Kuntal Sarma read out the importance and purpose of the meeting.

3 arrested criminals involved in murder, extortion: SP Contd. from Page 1

Similarly, SP said that Dharma was involved in one case of murder, two cases of attempt to murder, one case of looting of a tractor and in other cases like keeping of illegal arms and giving shelter to murder accused. Third criminal Sunil was also involved in one case of murder, two cases of attempt to murder, one case of fir-

ing in the air and making demand of Rs 10 lakh as extortion, he added. It may be recalled that after a long chase and exchange of fire, police teams succeeded in arresting Vikas alias Dudhia, originally resident of Siwah village in Panipat district and at present residing in Rohat in Sonepat district and Sunil and Dharam Singh of Bupania village in Jhajjar district yesterday.

ATTSA says, tea tribe community neglected ET Correspondent Margherita, Dec 7: In a statement expressing resentment, Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) Margherita Branch Committee said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre and Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in Assam have meted out a

step-motherly treatment to the Tea Tribe Community people living in Assam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls during his election campaign promised that there will be ‘Acche Din’ if BJP comes to power but today after 1 year and 7 months of BJP Government at the Centre, Tea Tribe Community People

of Assam are still struggling in getting their basic rights, alleged Umesh Jaal and Lobo Kumar Murmu, President and Secretary of ATTSA Margherita Branch Committee respectively adding that management of the Tea Companies of Assam through their Social Welfare Fund and Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme should provide

Awareness meeting on TB held at Naphuk TE ET Correspondent Sonari, Dec 7: An awareness meeting on TB was organized today at Naphuk tea estate under the aegis of Sonari TB Unit and the management of the tea estate today. The programme chaired by senior medical officer of Mathurapur tea estate Dr. J.K.Das was held at the auditorium of Naphuk tea estate. The meeting was anchored by health worker Amus Tanti.

The inaugural speech was delivered by the Senior Treatment Supervisor of Sonari TB Unit Mritunjoy Das. During the meeting speakers Dr. Amal Boiragi, Dr. Prabin Borgohain, Azim Ahmed, Anupam Mech, Lakhi Keot and

A view from the awareness programme on TB held at Naphuk TE. Pic - Mritunjoy Das Bhadar Ketrapal spoke upon the symptoms of TB, how TB can be identified and how a patient can be

treated through DOTS etc.

Several people from the locality too shared their views on the issue. Hun-

dreds of workers from Jaboka, Suffry, Mathurapur and Naphuk tea estate took part in the programme.

Nyishi Nyem Acham celebrates 9th Foundation Day at Seppa

Seppa, Dec 7: The 9th Foundation Day of Nyishi Nyem Acham (NNA) was celebrated at Seppa, East Kameng district on 5th December 2015. The girl children of the areas made delegates a rosy welcome.

It began with welcome address by organizing chairperson and president women welfare Organization, East Kameng district smti Veena S. Waii to the delegates.

Ms Neelam Moriam Khoda, President, NNA, in her key note address has divulged that in the span of nine years the organization solved many stringent cases which were faced by girl children and vulnerable women in the society. She advocated for equal gender in the com-

munity.

Mr. Tageng Padoh, chief judicial magistrate, as guest of honour, said, "Women are god gift for humanity. Polygyny is social evil, where a woman breaks down house of another woman.

There are laws to protecting and safety for women, therefore women should avail their legal rights. Legal awareness is necessary and he urged upon womenfolk to conduct awareness programmes."

Resource persons: a) advocate Biman Sonam viewed that there should be maintenance of victims like rape and protection of children from sexual offences. b) Advocate Jimsi Tassar highlighted that women should know WOMEN and

LAWS and procedures. Victims should be compensated. There are laws for child rights and right to education.

Ms Mitali Tiingkhatra, Chairperson of APSCW, as chief guest, applauded the Nyishi Nyem Acham for having formation and establishment of such institution for girl child and women who are vulnerable. She informed about existence of districts Legal Aid Cell chaired by deputy commissioners. She said, good mother should not differentiate between male and female child and pay equal attention. She has assured to take up with the state government in the social and economic structure of the NNA.

Smti pooza Natung, general secretary,Women Welfare Organisation of East Kameng district in their memorandum to the Chairperson, APSCW demands for establishment of Legal Aid Cell for juveniles, shelter home for destitute women, district women representatives into APSCW and appointment of WWO member as representative of women at Lok Adalat in their district.

Women welfare organization, Mothers group, Changtam Ane, kampu Hollen Orphanage welfare organization, Namlo Denne, Namlo youths, widow group, Disabled group, self help group of Sonam sisters and Sengtam Ajin and Panchayat leaders Mering Natung, ZPM of 9 Pappu valley east and Yalam Chiri, ZPM 10 Pappu valley west were also present.

Ms Nido Savita, Secretary NNA in her proposing vote of thanks appealed to the chairperson APSCW to look back for welfare of NNA organization. Function was ended with grand success.

HC dismisses pleas of Gandhis in National Herald case Contd. from Page 1 2014 on Swamy's complaint.

The Congress leaders had, thereafter, on July 30, 2014, moved the high court which had stayed the summons on August 6 last year. Thereafter, on December 15, 2014, the court had stayed the summons till final disposal of the petitions. The summons were issued on a criminal complaint lodged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of now-defunct daily National Herald.

officials.

The day-long workshop had the participants spending two sessions and the sessions were delivered by eminent resource persons like Shri Enosh Kumar from Northeast Regional head Common Service Centre on Common Service e-Governance services, Shri Jyotish Roy State Informatics Officer from NIC Itanagar on e-Governance in Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Mithun Chakraborty IEC Manager from Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Assam on Aadhar enabled e-Governance initiatives and Shri

Tapas Dutta Assistant Commissioner from Tax & Excise Department Itanagar on Computerization of Tax Administration under MMP in Arunachal Pradesh. In his inaugural address, Director (Training) ATI Pate Marik while welcoming the resource persons and participants emphasized on the need for use of information technology to provide effective, efficient and citizen friendly service through eGovernance system to the people of the State. He encouraged them to remain pro-active in the e-Governance revolution. Giving the

Estate should be implement such initiatives. Workers of the Tea Companies of Margherita Sub Division lack good living quarters, medical facilities, sanitation facilities, ambulance service, recreation club, etc., alleged Umesh Jaal while those who retired from Tea Companies of Margherita Sub Division have been deprived of their

opening remarks on the inaugural function, Former DGP of Andhra Pradesh, M.V.Krishna Rao IPS (Retd) introduced the theme of one day sensitization workshop and shared the five year journey of CISP and various activities undertaken in different state of India. He highlighted on how to provide an effective citizen friendly e-Governance services with the help of information technology in the door step of the people in remote areas of the districts. Citing examples on Keralas 100 % literacy rate, he informed

that the state has been also able to achieve the 99% digital literacy because of which people do not need to visit any government offices to get their work done.

He urged all the participants to interact, participate and ignite passion to make Arunachal a better place to live in. Among others, Project Research Associate of CIPS Hyderabad Shri Avik Chakraborty and Assistant Director ATI Naharalgun Shri Nani Khambo also spoke and gave deliberation on conducting the sensitization workshop.(DIPRO)

own provident fund and gratuity amount, he added.

Now, as the 2016 Assembly Election of Assam approaches, ATTSA Margherita Branch Committee shall start awareness campaign among the Tea Tribe Community voters so that they can vote for the right candidate, said Umesh Jaal and Lobo Kumar Murmu.

6 BJP, 9 Cong MLAs suspended from Assam Assembly Contd. from Page 1

Sensitization Workshop on "Innovative/Best Practices in e-Governance Initiatives held Naharlagun, Dec 7: Oneday sensitization workshop on Innovative/Best Practices in e-Governance Initiative was conducted under the aegis of Capacity Building Programmes of Mission Mode Projects of State Government & Government of India at ATI Naharlagun today.

The workshop was organized by the Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS), Hyderabad in association with Administrative Training Institute Naharlagun. Shri M.V. Krishna Rao, IPS (Retd) was the moderator of the workshop. The workshop aimed at facilitating the creation of the requisite platform for all the senior & middle level departmental official to partake in a deeper dialogue and for showcasing the best practices and solutions, address issues and challenges, appraisals on various e-Governance initiatives and way to accelerate e-Governance adoption in the state.

The participating departments had more than 45 representatives which included HoDs and AHoDs besides other senior and middle level

better facilities to the students belonging to Tea Tribe Community. Meanwhile, according to Assam Tea Plantation Act 1951 Tea Companies under Margherita Sub Division such as Powai Tea Estate, Dehing Tea Estate, Segunbari Tea Estate, Margherita Tea Estate, Namdang Tea Estate, Dirok Tea Estate and Ledo Tea

all Congress MLAs, including the ministers, countered the opposition demand by shouting back. The BJP MLAs then rushed to the Well of the House and pressed the Speaker with their demand. They were joined by the Congress MLAs, who had recently declared their allegiance to the opposition party but had not resigned from the ruling party. Thereafter, ll Congress MLAs also rushed to the Well and shouted slogans against BJP, leading to a face-off between the members. With no signs of cooling of frayed tempers, the Speaker called the Marshals, who took the BJP MLAs out of the House, and announced his decision to suspend the members for the Winter Session period.

Congress MLAs then returned to their seats and normal business began. Outside the House, the expelled BJP members shouted slogans against the state government and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who holds the Home portfolio. The opposition members also demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister for fail-

ing to improve the law and order situation in the state.

However, the Congress MLAs, supporting BJP, have not formally resigned forcing the ruling party to seek termination of their membership just before the start of the Winter Session.

After the Question Hour ended, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain again demanded action against the nine Congress members. “Some of our MLAs walked out with BJP members and they have not resigned from the party.

It proves that they have defected. There are many recommendations against defection in India. I request you to take action against them accordingly,” Hussain told the Speaker. On this, the Speaker said, “I will take action as per rules.” Condemning this act of the speaker, Assam BJP president and Union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that even the Assam assembly has been converted into a Congress office and said that the speaker is functioning as per the wishes of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi. BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma also termed the incident unfortunate. "It is very unfortunate that the speaker is doing this," said Sarma.

Chennai floods: Amma announces Rs 10,000, 10 kg of rice, a sari and dhoti for victims Contd. from Page 1

voter identity and Aadhar cards and bank passbooks free of cost. She said 13,80,461 people had been housed in 5,554 flood relief camps set up in Chennai, Cuddalore, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts.

Kanchipuram, which is

famed for silk saris and temples, is located 70 km from Chennai. Thiruvallur and Cuddalore are 39 and 185 km away from here respectively. According to her, a total of 80,120 people belonging to the army, navy, air force and National Disaster Response Force, fire service, Coast Guard, police and others were involved in the rescue efforts.

14th National Conference of TMPK concludes successfully at Dhakuakhana Contd. from Page 1

The major program that is the Open Session began with chorus at 11am and it was chaired by Naresh Kumbang, the newly elected President of the organisation.

Paramananda Chayengiya, the Chairman of the Mishing Autonomous Council inaugurated the Meeting with a speech appealing the community to be united for the betterment of the people. Dr Ranoj Pegu participated as the Guest of Honour who delivered an encouraging lecture for the fellow people. "TMPK is not a so-called organization but a trend of ideological struggle which is potent enough to lead the Mishing community through the way of progress''- he said. on the other hand, Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, the Chief Advisor of ASSU emphasized on the reformation of the elementary education

system and the review of its execution. He suggested of constituting 'School Evaluation Commission' with a view to the bright future of the students of the state. Besides him, Aditya Khakhlari, the President of All Assam Tribal Sangha also participated in the meeting as distinguished Guest. Chief Advisor of TMPK, Bhuban Pegu delivered speech as Appointed Speaker while Jawahar Jyoti Kuli, the President of MAK was present as Invited Guest.

It is noteworthy that the presidents and the secretaries of several national student organisations that represent the different ethnic groups of the state were present in the Open Session of the Conference. They all orchestrated unique tone for the greater interest of Assam. An attractive cultural night was organised with the performances of several renowned artists.

Sushma’s visit to focus on resumption of composite dialogue, says Sartaj Aziz Contd. from Page 1 You have to wait for two days to know on what note we will start the composite dialogue,” Aziz told the media here.

On the pending decision regarding the bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan Aziz said that he is waiting for response from the Indian Cricket Board.

“We're expecting a response from Indian Cricket Board, so that our cricket board can reply to them,”Aziz

added.

Swaraj is arriving in Pakistan on tuesday to attend the 'Heart of Asia' Conference and during her visit she is also expected to call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Swaraj's Pakistan visit will come on a positive note after a secret meeting between Indian and Pakistani NSAs in Bangkok on Sunday, with which the neighbouring countries crossed the main hurdles for Indo-Pak talks since last year - discussion on Kashmir and meeting of Pakistani offi-

cials with Hurriyat separatists.

NSA talks scheduled to be held in Delhi in August had been called off at the last minute after a war of words between Swaraj and Aziz, as the latter insisted on meeting with Kashmiri separatists and wanted the Kashmir issue to be on the table for discussion, which India rejected.

However, relations improved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handshake with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Paris on the sidelines of the climate summit. (ANI)

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Over 40 B'deshi prisoners lodged in jails in State Sdillong, Dec 7: As many as 40 Bangladeshi prisoners are languishing in various jails in Meghalaya with some of them overstaying for more than three years even after their convictions.As pert the official data available with media there are 16 Bangladeshi prisoners in Shillong, 23 in Tura and a lone Bangladeshi prisoner in Jowai. However, there are no Bangladeshi prisoners lodged at Williamnagar.The plight of the Bangladeshi prisoners are many ranging from relatives not visiting them in the jails and lawyers not coming forward to take

Centre promises to hike funds under MIDH schemes for Arunachal Itanagar, Dec 7: Union Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh promised to enhance funds under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for the benefit of the people of Arunachal Pradesh.Singh gave the assurance to Arunachal Horticulture and Home Minister Tanga Byaling and PWD Minister Gojen Gadi when they called on him in New Delhi, an official release said on Sunday.The Union minister urged the Arunachal ministerial team to spend the funds sanctioned under centrally-sponsored schemes and submit utilisation certificates at the earliest for him to take steps to mobilise additional resources, the release said.Singh also assured that steps would be taken for marketing of the state's agrihorticulture products to enable the farmers get remunerative prices.

Arunachal, with suitable agro-climatic conditions, has proved to be a big producer of horticulture products and is India's largest annual kiwi producer with an average 30,000 MT coming annually (2015) from the state whose large-sized cardamoms fetch handsome prices in the south Indian market.Facilitated by National Youth Project (NYP), NABARD has uploaded the farmers' success story on its website as a national model and launched a community horticultural farming project to benefit 1,016 families along the China border.(Agencies)

up the cause of these poor prisoners free of cost to secure their release.Unlike arrested Bangladeshi politician Salahudddin Ahmed, who engaged lawyers to pursue his case in the lower court here, these prisoners languishing in various jails in the State cannot afford to engage lawyers to take their cases.As per the information provided by the jail authorities, only a few relatives visit these foreign prisoners to speak to them and also to know their well beings.While most of the cases against the Bangladeshi prisoners are related to straying into In-

dian Territory there are also serious cases of smuggling of fake Indian currency notes, drugs, and weapons from across the border and committing theft and extortions after entering India.

Besides sections under NDPS and 489 IPC related to circulation of fake Indian currency, they were also booked under the various sections of Foreigners Act and Passport Act for entering India without valid documents. In Khasi Hills, the route through which they entered India included areas under Mawsynram, Pynursla, Ranikor and Shella.The routes these

Bangladeshi nationals took to enter Garo Hills included the porous areas under Dalu, Tura, Mahendraganj, Baghmara, and Mendipathar.

In Tura jail, out of the 23 prisoners, 18 are under trials and 5 are convicted, while there are as many as five prisoners languishing in jail for more than one year.

The officials admitted that the prisoners overstay in the jail even after the completion of their jail terms.The reason for the delay in deporting them back to Bangladesh is due to the long procedural formalities, an official with the

rency cases, the presence of BSF personnel who seized the items is required.However, a senior BSF official said that the job of BSF ends with the filing of FIR and handing over those Bangladeshis who are caught, to the police.He, admitted that on one occasion, the Bangladesh authorities refused to take back two Bangladeshi residents, who completed the jail term in Meghalaya by stating that the matter should be officially informed to the Bangladesh government as there was no prior intimation. (Agencies)

Barwani incident: Guilty will not be spared, says MP CM Chouhan Bhopal, Dec.7: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the state government will bare all the expenses of medical treatment for the victims of Barwani incident and added that the guilty would not be spared for such medical negligence. "We have considered this incident very seriously. The state government has also decided to suspend the civil surgeon. We are going

deep into the incident and the guilty will not be spared. Our priority now is only to save the eyes of the victims," Chouhan told the media here. "We have decided that the state government will bear expenses of medical treatment and compensation of Rs. two lakh will be given to victims of the Barwani incident," he added. In a camp held in the Barwani district hospital in Madhya Pradesh last week, 24 people lost

Barwani incident, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh, R.S. Palod, eye sight, cataract surgeries, medical negligence

their eye sight after cataract surgeries. Around 28 patients complained of infections post the surgery and were referred to Indore for further treatment. Out of these, 24 lost their eye sight. The state government has suspended eye specialist R.S. Palod and initiated action against the authorities of the Lions Club.

The government has also set up a three-member committee to probe the matter. (ANI)

LGBT community to march against intolerance Kolkata, Dec 7: The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will turn out for the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk on December 13 against intolerance, organizers said on Monday. Against the backdrop of the debate on intolerance, the 14th edition of

the walk will advocate protection of freedom of expression and equal rights for all.

Participants will march from College Square to Y Channel in the city demanding "strengthening of the fights, large and small, being waged across the nation for freedoms, equality, dignity and

rights." "While a dialogue on gender rights (LGBT) movement has been initiated among masses, the nation overall, seems to have had taken a few steps back in terms of safety, personal liberty and minority rights," the organisers said. Given the reported incidents of rapes,

Reverse Tragedy wins top prize at Hornbill Rock Contest Kohima , Dec 7: Reverse Tragedy, from Mizoram, struck the right notes to walk away as the winner of the prestigious Hornbill International Rock Contest.

The band beat nine groups to become the winner at the grand finale last night at Hockey Ground, IG Stadium, Kohima as part of the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland.

The finale was attended by Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang. The winner received cash award of Rs.10 lakh. The winning band will also be offered a free band

exam by Trinity College of London, the resource partner for the contest.October from Delhi was adjudged second while Grey Shack from Chennai bagged the third place. They both received a cash award of Rs.5 lakh and Rs.2.5 lakh respectively.The band with the best song went to Run Pussy Run, from Pune, while Fame, the band from Meghalaya, was declared as the one with the best potential. The best Nagaland band was bagged by Tune Up Channels.The best gui-

tarist honour went to Bishal Gurung, Reverse Tragedy.

October's Sherry Mathews won the best vocalist award.The best bassist award was given to Sayar Mitra, The Buddha Therapy, Kolkata, while Thupden Bhutia, of band Crystal and the Witches from Sikkim, won the best drummer trophy.Best Keyboardist honour went to Pritam Boro, 2 Square, Assam.Despite the biting cold, thousands of music fans and tourists witnessed the rock contestlate into the night. (Agencies)

Bangladesh upgrades diplomatic mission in Agartala Dhaka, Dec 7: Bangladesh has upgraded its diplomatic mission in Agartala to an assistant high commission and posted Sakhawat Hussain as the first assistant high commissioner to further boost bilateral relations, a Bangladesh official said today"The Bangladesh diplomatic mission and visa office in Tripura capital Agartala has been upgraded. Dhaka will soon set up a deputy high commission in Guwahati in Assam," he said.

Both the steps are aimed at boosting bilateral trade and economy and people-to-

Tura jail said.Public Prosecutor I.C. Jha said as far as the detection of Bangladeshis by the BSF is concerned, frequent transfers of BSF officers who effected the arrests and seizures of fake currencies and drugs will result in slow trial as the presence of the BSF personnel is required to speed up the process.As per 489 IPC (counterfeiting Indian currency) Section B states that the punishment will be 10 years, the punishment under Section C is 20 years, Jha said, while adding that to speed up the trials under fake cur-

people contacts, he said.The formal inauguration of the assistant high commission in Agartala is expected by the monthend.Sakhawat Hussain was earlier consular head of Bangladesh High Commission in Madrid (Spain). After taking over his current assignment on Monday, he left for Dhaka to meet Bangladesh foreign ministry officials."He will return before December 16 for the celebration of Vijay Diwas (the victory day of Bangladesh liberation war in 1971) in Agartala," the official added.Bangladesh Foreign

Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said at a seminar in Kolkatarecently that his country's government was increasing its diplomatic and consular presence in north-east India to promote multi-sectoral engagements with India."We are looking at greater economic integration between Bangladesh and India's north-east for mutual benefit. It will particularly facilitate north-east's socio-economic development and better connectivity with the rest of India," Ali added.

Bangladesh has diplomatic missions in New Delhi,

Kolkata and Mumbai.

New Delhi has opened assistant high commissions in Khulna and Sylhet in Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh earlier decided to upgrade the existing 27 custom stations in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram."With the opening of more Bangladesh diplomatic missions in north-east India, trade and business will further improve," Tripura Chambers of Commerce and Industries president M.L. Debnath told media.

(Agencies)

lynching, murders, public debates over reports of caste-based violence, growing incidents of intolerance and violence, the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk, oldest pride walk of India, "intends to make a political statement for equality, tolerance, love and solidarity." According

to Souvik, one of the members of the organising committee, the walk is for all the communities. "It is not just about gender rights or sexual rights now. The march will advocate for equality for all: the disabled, women and children," Souvik said.

(Agencies)

3 die after inhaling toxic gas in Bengal

Poisonous gas leaked from a drainage line in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district Kolkata, Dec 7: Three workers were killed and two others taken ill on Monday after inhaling poisonous gas that leaked from a drainage line in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, police said. The incident happened at the Kolkata Leather Complex when five workers were cleaning a drainage line of a tannery."The gas had ac-

cumulated somehow and when they were cleaning the drain, it escaped. Three workers have been killed and two others have been hospitalised," Additional Superintendent of Police (East Zone) Arijit Sinha said. The incident led to other workers staging demonstration, demanding monetary compensation for the victims' kin.(Agencies)

Missing Manipur Youth Found Hanging in Odisha Imphal, Dec 7:Manipuri? youth L. Poumai was on December 2 found hanging from a tree of a senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer's quarters near the Raj Bhavan in ?#?Bhubaneswar?.L. Poumai went missing while travelling from Dimapur to ?#?Bangalore? by train.Poumai's elder brother informed that his brother had last contacted him over phone from the running train at about 4.55 pm on November 29 and had informed that around five persons were threatening him. The train reached Bangalore on 30 November but he was found missing.On December 2, a local woman re-

vealed that on the intervening night they had heard yelling and wailing of a youth and hurling of abuses by a gang of ruffians and a Scorpio car was found parked there. According to eyewitnesses, the youth was hanging from a guava tree in the backyard of an OAS officer Arunanchal Dash's quarter No GR 63.Some local boys while playing cricket in the nearby playground had first discovered the body.

They soon informed the police.Capital Police Station IIC had reached the spot and recovered the body. The body was sent to the Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar for postmortem. (Agencies)

People need to know of Aug 3 accord before final pact: Pusa Kohima, Dec 7: A day prior to the visit of R.N. Ravi, Centre's Interlocutor for Naga talks, former minister and senior Congress leader, K.V. Pusa stated that the people be briefed about the August 3 frame work agreement to enable people draw a conclusion before the final agreement.While stating that any agreement should usher in peaceful environment in the state for progress and development, Pusa however cautioned that such agreement should not create more problem as in the past.He asserted that before any decision, Centre would have to create a congenial atmosphere for all groups and also consult the Naga people. Pusa cautioned saying "unilateral and dictatorial style of functioning could sabotage the hard earned Naga peace process". "Without taking

all sections of people into account and their views considered, there would be no honourable and acceptable solution", Pusa said.

Centre should not deliver lip service but display sincerity and commitment to resolve the vexed Naga political issue, he added. For this, Pusa said "Centre should withdraw all black laws from the state like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Prevention of Unlawful Acts, release of all political prisoners, work towards removing all misgivings and suspicion among Naga insurgent groups. Unfortunately the Government of India is not doing that". He said a thorough deliberation and discussion was needed with all other Naga groups to reach for a common point before signing the final agreement. He further hit out at the Centre for declar-

ing the NSCN (K) as unlawful outfit again and trying to liquidate it. "I think that is not in a true spirit of peace" he added. Pusa went on to say that the framework accord had generated more confusion and doubts in the minds of the people because to the insincere approach by the Government of India. He said imposing Disturbed Area Act (DAA) in the state of Nagaland reflected the way Centre was tackling the Naga issue. Pusa also slammed the Centre of trying to curtail the democratic rights of the people in the name of AFSPA. In the guise of AFSPA, Pusa said that the Centre was dictating the media in Nagaland, raid civilian houses, killing of students and other human rights violation.

Taking note of the report that Centre would be moni-

toring mobile related calls (Call Detail Record) in Nagaland, he said it was invading into people's privacy which tantamount to a dictatorial form of government. "All these must be stopped if the Government of India is working for a permanent peace", Pusa said. He also advised the Centre not to view Nagaland from the perspective of insurgency only but to opt for development and progress as it is done in other states.Meanwhile, Pusa has asked the BJP-led NDA government not only deliver lip services to the people but funds be released for speedy development of the state. He said "Nagaland was created out of special agreement and that it should not be at par with other states".

(Agencies)

Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das gets furious as official 'disrespects' him; orders suspension (Video) Ranchi, Dec 7: Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das got furious while delivering a public address as a government official broke protocol while the leader was delivering his public address. The unidentified official walked past Raghubar Das while he was speaking to an audience gathered for a public function in Ranchi.The enraged chief minister turned towards the official and lashed out at him

publicly. "kaun ho tum? yeh koi tarrika hai? Bilkul bhi tameez nahi hai. Itna indiscipline (Who are you? Is this the way? You have no discipline at all)". Raghubar Das further ordered the officials present on the podium to prepare his suspension orders.As Das suspended the official; the audience present lauded the move.

"This is the problem. There is no work culture. This needs

to change. Jharkhand will not tolerate this," he added.On Saturday, the Jharkhand CM faced another round of embarrassment after the family members of martyred Lance Albert Ekka refused to accept the soil of the soldier's grave from the chief minister, alleging that the step taken was too late and they doubted the authenticity of the his final remains.

(Agencies)

Raghubar Das got furious over the disregard shown by the official while he was addressing the public. Justifying the move, he described it as a necessary step to curb indiscipline

Members of Manipur National Council protesting regarding their demands at Last Gate, Dispur in Guwahati. Pic - UB Photos.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

PAGE 6

2,000 Delhi school students conduct 'largest practical science lesson' New Delhi, Dec 7 : Two thousand school students from Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday assembled at the sprawling lawns of IIT Delhi to conduct 'the largest practical science lesson', seeking to script a new world record for the Guinness Book.

The existing world record is held by a group of 1,339 Irish school pupils.

The 'historic' event was organized by Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), the country's largest science movement, as part of the December 4-8 India International Science Festival (IISF) 2015, being jointly organized by the Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences. The participating students, with excitement writ large on their faces, got a pep talk from Union Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani ahead of the lesson. Jayakumar, Secretary General, VIBHA, said the experiment went smoothly and in a glitch-free manner.

"All students conducted the experiment successfully. We will be sending the result to the Guinness Book this evening. Hopefully, the final result would come in three-four days," he added. Prof. K. Girish Kumar, senior professor of chemistry in Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala who coordinated the mega event, said three independent observers for the event- Dharmendra Kumar, Senior Police Commissioner, Delhi; Mr Arup Kumar Mishra, Director, Assam State Council for Science and Technology; and Prof. Akhil Ahamed, former Vice Chancellor, Mysore University-are evaluating this.

"The three observers enjoy a reputation for immaculate integrity. They will send their report to me and I will forward it to the Guinness Book," he pointed out. "If our students succeed, the record holders will be Vijnana Bharati." Lokesh Mohanti, a 17-year-old student of National Public School who participated in the event, was ecstatic. "We did it. The experiment

Chennai Airport becomes fully functional from Monday Chennai, Dec. 7: The Chennai Airport has become fully operational from this morning, as airliners are resuming their domestic and international flights from there. Civil Aviation authorities said the airport that was shut down last Wednesday due to heavy inundation is now ready for operation day and night.

We are happy to announce that it has been decided to resume the round the clock services, all weather operations from 6 a.m. December 7. In other words, from 7th December, 2015, normal operations of Chennai Airport i.e. both Domestic and International flight operations will start operating," said a statement released by Chennai Airport Director Deepak Shastri. With this, the city has got integrated with all modes of transport

that were hugely affected by the recent floods. In the rain-devastated Chennai and its suburbs, the Army has over sixty teams including medical units undertaking relief measures for those who are living in areas that are still engulfed by water and those in temporary shelters. Indian Coast Guard made ten air sorties on Sunday and dropped about two tonnes of relief materials in coordination with the state authorities.

Navy distributed more than two tonnes of essential items through aerial and road means. The NDRF personnel are continuing their biggest ever rescue and relief operations in Tamil Nadu.

Educational institutions are given leave in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallu and Cuddalore districts today as well. (ANI)

Congress adamant on V.K. Singh's ouster New Delhi, Dec.7: The Congress party on Monday continued their protest against Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh over his dog analogy and demanded his removal from the Cabinet. The Congress leaders staged a protest next to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Parliament, demanding General (Retd.) Singh's ouster from the Cabinet.

"We have already demanded strict action by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the BJP leaders for making irresponsible statements on many issues, including on Dalits, and especially V. K. Singh should be removed from the Cabinet for his 'dog remark' on Dalits. Our 'dharna' was to only demand the removal of V.K Singh from the Cabinet," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here. Another Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia also demanded action against the former army chief and said mere

speeches made by the government in the Parliament is not enough. "We are raising this issue as it has a lot to do with the behaviour of a Central Government minister against a particular community and against Indians per se. Therefore, we demand that action be taken by the government and mere speeches in Parliament is not good enough," Scindia told the media here. The former army chief had courted a controversy with his reaction over the Dalit killings in Ballabhgarh in October, saying that it had become customary for the Centre to be blamed for everything negative that happened in the country. "This incident has nothing to with the Central government. This is the failure of state government. If someone throws stones at a dog, the government is not responsible," Singh had said. Genera (Retd.)

Singh, however, tendered an apology later over his remark as the opposition mounted pressure on the government and demand his ouster. (ANI)

Congress protest, General V K Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, parliament

2, 000 Delhi school students, 'largest practical science lesson', VIBHA

went well for all of us. The record is ours," the exuberant student said while coming out of the huge makeshift laboratory after finishing the experiment.

The nearly 65-minute-long programme began at 10:37 a.m. with the schoolchildren of the 9th to 12th standard -50 each drawn from 40 schools, both government and private listening in rapt attention to a lecture as a prelude to the experiment. The lecture was delivered by Ms Shalini Menon, a CSIR research fellow at CUSAT. Neatly attired in their white lab coat and wearing

gloves, the students conducted two science practicals, both related to catalysis, a process which makes chemical reactions faster without any additional input of energy. The process is extensively used in manufacture of some 90 per cent products that the world uses today. A major feature of the exercise was 'Elephant Tooth Experiment' in which hydrogen peroxide underwent catalytic decomposition in the presence of iodide, resulting in the liberation of a large amount of oxygen and foaming up to resemble a

giant toothpaste being squeezed. The other experiment was discoloration of methylene blue by hydrogen peroxide. Huge screens were set up for the students as they conducted the experiment under the watchful eyes of the observers. To conduct the practical, five students each shared a table with equipments and chemicals. There were 40 stewards to observe students' work, who would be witnesses to affirm that students did complete the experiment successfully.

The largest practical science lesson before this event was conducted at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on February 24 this year. As per The Guinness Book of Records, 1,339 primary school students of 7th and 8th standard from Belfast participated in a mass chromatography practical.

That effort was supported and conducted by The Royal Society of Chemistry, London. "Two thousand bright young students are going to participate in the record-breaking science experiment and it has already set a lot

of tongue wagging," Smt Smriti Irani said, drawing a thunderous clapping from the participating students. Expressing happiness over the IISF event, Smt. Irani said efforts need to be made to hold similar festivals in all the states. "Hopefully, 6-7 months down the line, we would be able to make even a bigger attempt at the world record by assembling 20,000 students at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi," she said, exuding confidence.

Dr Harsh Vardhan congratulated the students for the 'mega event'. "I am excited like you. I am sure you will succeed and make the country proud," he said. "You have the blessings of our Prime Minister who has immense faith in you and the youth of the country. The PM believes that our youth can bring glory to India. They have huge potential to become professionals like engineers, scientists and doctors and create new innovations to mitigate the hardships of the people," he noted in his address.

(ANI)

NSA-level talks must proceed in right direction: NCP Mumbai, Dec.7: Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Monday said the National Security Advisors (NSA)-level talks between India and Pakistan must proceed in the right direction in order to improve bilateral relations between the two countries. "If the talks take place, whether it takes place behind the curtain, or publicly by hugging and shaking hands, or by having pictures together, it hardly matters. What is important is the substance of the talk. Talks must proceed in the right direction for the improvement of relations between the two countries," Menon told here. "On the priority list,

the highest priority would be of peace and to eliminate terrorism from the sub-continent both from India and Pakistan. I think both people of India and Pakistan are anxious to have good relations inter se and people would be happy if India and Pakistan live in peace," he added. On Sunday, it was revealed that the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan had held a secret meeting in Bangkok and discussed a range of issues, including peace and security, terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir. According to media reports, the meeting was agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart

Majeed Memon, NCP, India, Pakistan relations, NSA level talks, Bangkok

Nawaz Sharif when they met in Paris last week on the sidelines of COP-21, and Bangkok was chosen as the most convenient location for both sides to have the discussions. A joint statement issued later said that the foreign secretaries of both countries accompanied the NSAs. The statement said the dis-

cussions "covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, other issues including tranquility over the Line of Control." The discussions reportedly lasted for over four hours and that all subjects having a security dimension, including Jammu and Kashmir, were raised and talked about. "It was agr e e d t o c a r r y f o r ward the constructive engagement," the joint statement. It is also being reported, but yet to be confirmed, that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is all set to travel to Pakistan on Tu e s d a y f o r a n A f ghanistan-related conference. (ANI)

Bangkok represents greatest betrayal of national interest: Congress New Delhi, Dec.7: The Congress Party on Monday lashed out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government for initiating secretive talks with the Pakistan Government in Bangkok, Thailand, describing it categorically as a betrayal of national interests. Congress Party spokesman Randeep Surjewala told that, "the Congress Party has always stood for peaceful resolution through mutual cooperation and mutual talks, but this (NDA) government did not take us into confidence about the talks in Bangkok." "The talks with Pakistan have gone through a series of flip-flops and the current talks do not inspire much expectation. Further, it raises the question of whether these talks are being used as a diversion by the Modi government from pivotal issues such as the economic, political or agrarian crisis," he added. Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tewari said, "Bangkok represents the greatest betrayal of national interest. Another Congress leader P.L. Punia told , "It is difficult to understand the foreign policy of this government.

There should be talks, we

India, Pakistan, Talks, Bangkok, Thailand, Betrayal

are not against it, but there should be some result also. Without any policy and agenda, there is no use of having such dialogues." Punia further stated that he was surprised that the Kashmir issue had also been raised by the Indian and Pakistan delegations at the talks in Bangkok, adding, "NSA-level is only to discuss on terrorist activities and how to tackle terrorism." Pramod Tewari, another senior Congress leader, said, "I have heard that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is going to Pakistan. I do not know what is happening, but one thing is sure, ceasefire violations and dialogue cannot go hand in hand. We cannot spare terrorists. These talks in Bangkok should be condemned vehemently."

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told , "When both India and Pakistan are

talking, even then ceasefire violations are continuing along the border against India. My question is what India is going to achieve through these dialogues. Terrorism in India cannot take place without Pakistan's support. Pakistan wants to finish off India." He further stated, "We will keep on being sweet with Pakistan, and on the contrary, they will (continue to) kill our soldiers. This cannot happen for long.

The reactions came a day after it was revealed that the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan had held a secret meeting in Bangkok on Sunday and discussed a range of issues, including peace and security, terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir. According to media reports, the meeting was agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif when they met in Paris last week on the sidelines of COP-21, and Bangkok was chosen as the most convenient location for both sides to have the discussions. A joint statement issued later said that the foreign secretaries of both countries accompanied the NSAs. The statement said the

discussions "covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, other issues including tranquility over the Line of Control." The discussions reportedly lasted for over four hours and that all subjects having a security dimension, including Jammu and Kashmir, were raised and talked about. "It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement," the joint statement. It is also being reported, but yet to be confirmed, that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is all set to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for an Afghanistan-related conference. NSA-level talks were scheduled earlier this year when the two Prime Ministers had met for a bilateral summit in Ufa, Russia, but that meeting fell through at the last minute after Pakistaninsisted that it wanted to have talks with Kashmiri separatists in Delhi before going in for official delegation-level talks. Both sides also disagreed about the agenda of the meeting, with Islamabad pushing for an "open agenda" and India maintaining the talks should be confined to terrorism.

(ANI)

Chennai floods: Govt. to replace 'lost, damaged' passports for free

chennai floods, chennai rains, chennai passport, sushma swaraj, chennai airport New Delhi, Dec. 7: The government on Monday announced that those who have lost their passports or got them damaged due to the floods in Chennai can have them replaced free of charge. "If your passport is lost or damaged in floods, pl go to any of three Passport Seva Kendra's in Chennai. They will issue u fresh passport free of charge," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted. This news comes as a major relief for the Chennaites, who are facing a massive lose of property among other valuables due to the deluge and the resulting floods. Meanwhile, the Chennai Airport has become fully operational from

this morning, as airliners are resuming their domestic and international flights from there. The Civil Aviation authorities said the airport that was shut down last Wednesday due to heavy inundation is now ready for operation day and night. "We are happy to announce that it has been decided to resume the round the clock services, all weather operations from 6 a.m. December 7. In other words, from 7th December, 2015, normal operations of Chennai Airport i.e. both domestic and international flight operations will start operating," said a statement released by Chennai Airport Director Deepak Shastri. (ANI)

Stop 'politicising' and drop V.K Singh issue: Govt. to Opposition New Delhi, Dec. 7: The government on Monday appealed to the opposition to stop politicising the row over Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (retd.)

V.K. Singh and said that the matter was now over since the latter has already apologised for his controversial statement following the murder of two Dalit children. "This issue is being repeated and escalated unnecessarily as he (Singh) has re-iterated time and again that he in no way wanted to hurt or insult any section of the society with his statement. But we can't help it if people want to keep this issue alive for political reasons," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told here.

Meanwhile, the Congress, led by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi protested against V.K. Singh outside the Parliament today and demanded his resignation.

Rahul was joined by senior

V.K singh row, V.K singh on dog remark, V.K singh congress, govt V.k singh Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack the Union Minister. On October 22, General (retd.) Singh was asked to comment on the incident in which two Dalit children were burnt alive in Ha r y a n a a n d h e r e sponded saying, "If someone throws stones at some dogs, will the Prime Minister be held accountable", which raised a furore.

(ANI)

Mayawati plays Dalit card to corner Govt. over V.K. Singh's 'dog' remark New Delhi, Dec.7: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday lambasted the BJP-led NDA Government for not initiating any strict action against Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.)

V.K. Singh over his dog analogy and said that it reflected the anti-Dalit mindset of the ruling dispensation.

Mayawati reiterated that General (Retd.) Singh should be sacked from the Union Cabinet with immediate effect. "We strongly condemn the foul language used by V.K Singh for the dalit family in Haryana. Before the start of the session, considering the seriousness of the case, we had already asked for his resignation and also for an immediate action to be taken against him," Mayawati told reporters outside the Parliament here. "I don't think the government is going to take any action against Singh. It shows the anti-Dalit mindset of the government," she added The BSP supremo also alleged that the Congress and BJP were indulging in cheap politics on the atrocities committed

on the Dalits. "I don't even trust the intention of both the BJP and the Congress when they say that they would strive for justice for the dalits," she said. The Delhi Police had earlier filed an Action Taken Report (ATR) in the Delhi Court and stated that no case was made out against the former army chief. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) had earlier summoned top cops in Ghaziabad, seeking a response on what action had been initiated against General (Retd.) Singh's 'dog' remark under the SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The NCSC had issued summons to Haryana's Director General of Police (DGP) and Ghaziabad's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), asking them to appear on November 2.

General (Retd.) Singh, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party's MP from Ghaziabad, had while attempting to delink the Centre over the killing of two Dalit kids in Ballabhgarh said the government is blamed even if a stone is pelted at a dog.

(ANI)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Adani plans ports to cover India's coastline & enter foreign shores Pak looks forward Colombo, Dec 7:The said. In addition to the operator with a significant 30 km from the Kerala to bilateral meeting presence in Gujarat, Goa, capital, is located strate$10-billion Adani Group is nine Adani ports in India, stringing together a Sagar including Vizhinjam, it's Tamil Nadu and Odisha. gically close to the southwith Swaraj Mala or necklace of ports looking at three more for "We'll look to go interna- ernmost tip of the Indian dotting India's coastline, said Karan Adani, soon after the ground-breaking ceremony at Vizhinjam, which will form one of these facilities when it's ready. In addition to this, the company is also looking to establish ports in at least four countries close to India to create synergistic linkages with Adani's Indian assets, he

fuller coverage."We have three missing pieces left Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh," said Adani, 27, executive director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala state capital. "We are actively scouting, greenfield and brownfield

India, Pakistan breaks the ice off camera in Bangkok New Delhi, Dec 7: Breaking the diplomatic deadlock, the national security advisors of India and Pakistan held a meeting away from the public gaze in Bangkok on Sunday, six days after the two prime ministers met in Paris on the sidelines of the climate conference.The news of

in Bangkok.The national security advisors were earlier scheduled to meet in New Delhi in August but that was cancelled virtually at the last minute, mainly on the issue of the then Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz meeting Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir and the condition that the talks will only be

India, Pakistan NSAs agreed to take forward the "constructive" engagement after the meeting in Bangkok Sunday's meeting was released by Ministry o f External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, who tweeted a photo, at 4.39 pm, of smiling NSA Ajit Doval shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart Lt Gen (retd) Naseer Khan Janjua.

Significantly, the crucial sticking point of "Jammu and Kashmir", which was not part of the last joint statement issued by the two sides at the Russian city of Ufa in July, was discussed by the two NSAs

on terrorism. The latest breakthrough came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in Paris on the sidelines of the COP-21 summit, where they exchanged ideas on a possible way forward. "In a brief interaction in Paris, Prime Minister Modi and PM Sharif felt that both countries should talk. The Bangkok meeting followed their decision," said a top government source. (Agencies)

Myanmar's ex-dictator endorses Suu Kyi as 'future leader' Karachi, Dec. 7: Myanmar's former junta leader Than Shwe has endorsed National League for Democracy (NLD) chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi as a "future leader" of the country, according to his grandson.

According to media, Than Shwe, a postal clerk turned general who ran the country with an iron fist for nearly two decades, met Suu Kyi on Friday. The NLD chief's party is preparing for power after November's landslide victory.The talks mark a dramatic turnaround in fortune for Suu Kyi, who was kept under h ouse arrest for 15 years by the 82-

Suu Kyi year-old retired general for leading the democracy movement against his army.

Than Shwe said that Suu Kyi will be the future leader of Myanmar and everyone has to accept that. (ANI)

Afghan official: Suicide bombing in east wounds 9 people Kabul, Dec 7:An Afghan official says a suicide car bombing in the country's east has wounded nine people, including six policemen.The provincial governor's spokesman, Attaullah Khugyani, says the bomber targeted a police compound early on Monday morning in the Surkh Rud district in Nangarhar province.He says three civilians were among the wounded and that the blast damaged both the compound and two dozen shops

nearby.Police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal says the bomber tried to get into the compound but blew the car up prematurely outside the facility.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.Taliban are active in eastern Afghanistan.

Insurgent attacks against both Afghan troops and civilians have escalated across the country since the withdrawal of all foreign combat forces by the end of last year.

(Agencies)

Adani Group is stringing together a Sagar Mala or necklace of ports dotting India's coastline, said Karan Adani, soon after the ground-breaking ceremony at Vizhinjam

sites."APSEZ, the group's flagship com-

pany, is now India's largest private sector port

tional. We are actively looking at Myanmar, Bangladesh, East Africa, Southeast Asia," Adani said. "Our strategy would be to look at Bay of Bengal. Ports in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, in countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, where there is a scope to have a tieup with ports in India."Vizhinjam, about

peninsula, making it an ideal location for the container transshipment hub that Adani is building. The project is billed as India's first transshipment hub that will compete against those in Dubai, Singapore and Colombo. It will, on completion, be able to berth Triple E mega container vessels that can only dock at a few ports in the world. (Agencies)

Blame game to worsen polls atmosphere Dhaka, Dec 7:Despite the Election Commission's claim of neutrality and ensuring a level playing field ahead of the municipal polls, the BNP has made serious allegations of its highly partisan role.The ruling Awami League has dismissed the allegation, saying it is a mere propaganda of its main political opposition which boycotted the last general elections in 2014.Although electioneering is on in full swing with the election watchdogs scrutiny having ended yesterday, political camps have resorted to mud-slinging in the battle for votes scheduled for December 30.For the first time, the local government election is going to be held partisan except for the posts of councillor. The mayoral candidates will contest the electoral race with party symbols. Political analysts say the blame-game will worsen the election atmosphere which ultimately will not benefit anyone and rather weaken the electoral and political system of the country. Awami League Joint General

Secretary Mahbub-ulAlam Hanif said: "The BNP propagates before every election that fair election would not be held. In Barisal City Corporation election, the BNP alleged that the vote had been rigged but finally the BNP-backed candidate won the poll."However, after the election the party said the election was fair. "Resorting to falsehood is BNP's habit and that is why its allegations should not be taken into cognisance," he said.BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: "The Election Commission's role has not been impartial from the very beginning. It is totally partisan. It is clear that a free and fair municipal poll is not possible under this commission."Fakhrul, however, said a little effort by the EC could hold a fair poll.Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz said they had taken all necessary measures so that no one is forced to boycott the local body polls this time."We are alert as we have learnt lessons

from the elections we have organised in the past. That is why I am saying we have taken all measures so that no one is forced to quit the election race, unless he or she does it deliberately," he told reporters at the office of the EC Secretariat.He also said: "We can assure you that the EC will monitor everything everywhere so that a free and fair election is held."Shah Nawaz said the commission will have nothing to do if anyone boycotts the election deliberately.

Ataur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Political Scientists Association, said different political parties are participating in the election with different purposes and that is why they are making contradictory statements.There is a perception that the Awami League will take most of the seats and consolidate its strength more in the grassroots level while the BNP has no other option but to take part in the polls, he added.This will basically be a pandemonium which will invite more

instability and unrest in the grassroots and, more significantly, the political system in the lowest level will weaken," he said.Ataur also said the EC has already been tested as it failed to deliver any fair election including the January 5 election and last Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls. Afsan Chowdhury, a political commentator, said both the Awami League and the BNP are passing through crisis moments although they are different in nature.He said the BNP has already been withered away. To stay in the political field, the BNP has to participate in the election. No matter what the voting result is, the participation will charge up the party leaders and activists, he noted.Afsan said the Awami League is also in crisis, especially for the security concerns.

"The Awami League will try its best to win maximum seats to prove that people are with them."About the EC, he said people have a perception that the Election Commission is weak. (Agencies)

Key witness against China's Bo Xilai dies in jail: media Beijing, Dec 7:The billionaire tycoon who testified that he paid former rising Communist Party political star Bo Xilai millions in bribes has died in prison, Chinese state media reported today.Xu Ming, the chief accuser at the trial of the fallen Chongqing party chief, probably died of a "sudden heart attack.But social media users asked whether Xu's death - months before his scheduled release - could have been more than a coincidence.State media largely glossed over Xu's central role in one of the country's most lurid political episodes of recent decades. Instead it described him as the founder of conglomerate Shide Group and former chairman of Chinese football champions Dalian Shide, an indication of the case's continued sensitivity. Bo, whose wife was convicted of killing a British businessman, was accused of accepting almost $3.5 million in bribes from Xu, who also provided the family with funds for a French villa. The politician was jailed for life for graft in

Chinese billionaire business tycoon Xu Ming, detained in March 2012, has died in prison

2013.Xu got his start selling prawns, before founding Shide Group in the early 1990s, building it into a national conglomerate with interests in everything from construction and petrochemicals to sport.His close ties to Bo's family allegedly helped him to expand his business empire and increase his personal fortune to over a billion dollars. At one time he was listed as the eighth richest person in China.In 2000 he bought China's then most successful football team and renamed it after his company.The club was left in financial limbo after his detention and

played its last game in 2012 before being acquired by the Aerbin Group. Xu was due to be released in September 2016 but died on Friday."His honour and shame will both follow his ashes eternally into the grave," it said.Many media outlets across China used almost identical wording to describe the circumstances of Xu's life and death, suggesting that authorities may have issued instructions on how to report the news - often the case for sensitive subjects.The offences he was convicted of remained unclear, with state media saying only

that he was detained in March 2012 in connection with "economic cases" before being "punished and sent to jail".Afterwards, "the outside world could get very little news" about his fate, said the Beijing Times.Despite the official circumspection, Chinese social media were rife with speculation about the case, with many noting that some high officials might have wanted to see Xu dead because he knew too much.Although a few outlets made passing reference to Xu's links to Bo, most preferred to focus on his high-profile role in Chinese soccer.Avoiding any mention of his links to Bo, the state-run China Youth Daily used his death as an excuse to lambast Chinese football for its history of corruption and gambling.Even in jail, "he continued to have a high degree of interest in football", according to the stock language used by several news outlets, which added that he fell into "despair" over the poor performances of his former team. (Agencies)

Islamabad, Dec. 7 : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said today that a bilateral meeting will be held with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her visit to Islamabad tomorrow."At Pakistan's invitation, the Indian foreign minister will arrive in Islamabad tomorrow to attend the Heart of Asia conference," Sartaj told reporters at a press conference today.He told reporters in Islamabad that a bilateral meeting will be held with Swaraj. Aziz said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will also arrive in the capital to attend the conference the following day.High-level meeting will also be held on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' conference, Aziz said.On Sunday, the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of India and Pakistan met in Bangkok and held discussions on various issues of mutual interest, including terror-

Sudhma Swaraj

ism and Jammu and Kashmir."Discussions were held in a candid, cordial, and constructive atmosphere, and covered peace and security, terrorism, J&K and other issues, including tranquillity along the Line of Control (LoC)," stated a joint press statement issued following their meeting."They are guided by the visions of two leaders for a peaceful stable and prosperous South Asia, and it was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement," the statement added.The Heart of Asia meeting will be held in Islamabad on December 9.(ANI)

Government making "fundamental departure" in India-Pakistan ties: Congress New Delhi, Dec 7: Congress today accused the ruling NDA of making a "fundamental departure" in New Delhi's position on Indo-Pak ties and of 'disrespecting' Parliament, as the government assured that the External Affairs Minister will make a statement on the issue later this week.Raising the issue at the start of Rajya Sabha proceedings, Anand Sharma demanded that the Prime Minister should clarify on India's engagement with Pakistan and take Parliament and the Opposition into confidence about the direction and the roadmap that the government has in mind. "I have given a notice under Rule 267 so that the Prime Minister and his government inform the House about the developments and the reasons which have made the government to make a fundamental departure from the position as was conveyed to this august House in the last session with regard to India's engagement with Pakistan," he said.With the Winter Session starting 10 days ago and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of Paris Climate Summit last week, Sharma said "we did expect that he would take Parliament and leaders of opposition into confidence about the direction and the roadmap that the government has in mind".Sharma said now External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is going to Islamabad and added that "this is disrespect to Parliament, that Parliament is not informed as to what developments are taking place.""The fact that the Foreign Secretaries have accompanied the National Security Advisors means that the scope and the agenda has been expanded."Therefore, we would demand government takes Parliament into confidence and the Prime Minister shares as to what has been the understanding reached between him and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the government now to move forward," he said.Responding to him, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reaffirmed government's strong commitment to national interest and said, "on the issue raised by you, I assure you that on December 10 the External Affairs Minister will come to the House and provide all information on the issues that you have raised." (Agencies)

Senior Taliban leaders doubtful if Mullah Mansoor alive Karachi, Dec 7: Senior Taliban leaders are doubtful of the authenticity of the audio message that seemed to prove that the group's chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was alive as Afghan officials said they are still trying to verify the clip.According to the media, the insurgent group released the 16-minute file after reports citing multiple intelligence and militant sources claiming the Taliban chief was killed in a firefight on Tuesday inside Pakistan .However, doubts continued to linger among the group's senior

Mullah Mansoor

ranks, who are distrustful of their leadership following a two-year coverup of the death of the Taliban's founder and first leader Mullah Omar.A senior Taliban source said that it was a fake audio, adding that he believes he is dead.

(ANI)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Centre's enthusiasm for BCIM good news for Northeast Juvenile Justice Act Reasons for crime and its continuance into adult life In recent years, it has become very clear that juvenile delinquency is the most important aspect of the subject matter of criminology. These years have also seen an urge for an objective appraisal of the problem and the development of the new techniques. Delinquent behaviour has assumed serious forms among the juveniles, which is a sign of sick society. The disorder and destruction due to deviant behaviour, a worldwide phenomenon, is assuming alarming proportions in social organizations and is awakening call to those who are either in its grip or are likely to get struck. Juvenile delinquency, as a legal concept is of recent origin. Juvenile delinquency is an integral part of criminology. The two cannot be separated since one of the reasons for crime and its continuance into adult life is the ineffective control and treatment of juveniles. Juvenile delinquency is a big breading centre of criminals.

Also the impending release of the juvenile involved in the December 16 gang-rape has alarmed the victim's parents, and rightly so. The rapist, now nearly 21 years of age, was sentenced to three years in a correctional facility by a Juvenile Justice Board. This is the maximum sentence mandated by the Juvenile Justice Act. Given the barbarity of the crime and the horrifying injuries inflicted on the victim, the brief three-year sentence, no doubt, reveals the inadequacy of the JJ Act. It must be acknowledged that adolescent criminals deserve to be treated with greater leniency than criminal adults. They must be treated with sympathy and given a productive opportunity to reform themselves. At the same time, crimes like rape and murder that are generally associated with adulthood - in addition to the violent nature and magnitude of these acts - need to be factored into the processes of justice delivery. Currently, the JJ Act does not make such a distinction. While the Cabinet has approved the trial of juveniles accused of committing heinous adult crimes, the impasse in Parliament has delayed the proposed amendments in the JJ Act. Moreover there is a perception that many juveniles are committing violent crimes, especially rapes, and this can be addressed by the government's amendments.

According to government crime statistics, in 2013, 1,388 cases of rape were registered against juveniles in the 16 to 18 year age group. This amounts to less than 5 per cent of all rape cases registered that year. Further, when the Parliamentary Standing Committee examined the matter, it found that many of the juvenile rape cases could be attributed to the increase in the age of consent of sexual activity from 16 to 18 years. Also a closer look at the government's crime statistics reveals that almost 80 per cent of juveniles accused of crimes belong to families having an annual income of less than Rs. 50,000 and more than 50 per cent of them did not complete primary school.

Woman entrepreneurship in Northeast Entrepreneurship, the need of the hour Entrepreneurship is one of the most important inputs in the economic development of a country or a region.

Entrepreneurship development and income generating activities are a feasible solution for empowering women.

It generates income and also provides flexible working hours according to the needs of home makers. Economic independence is the need of the hour. Women are entering into entrepreneurship even while facing socio-cultural, economic, technical, financial and managerial difficulties. Women entrepreneurship movements have gained momentum by encouragement, appropriate awareness, training, environment and support. This has improved the socio-economic status, which is a pre-requisite of women's empowerment. The emergence of women entrepreneurs and their contribution to the national economy is quite visible in India. Entrepreneurship development among women is considered as a possible approach to economic empowerment of women. In India women entrepreneurship are considered as "necessity entrepreneurship" rather than "opportunity entrepreneurship" The resource to entrepreneurship is abundant North East India has a tremendous scope for agro-based industries, agro forestry, horticulture, mushroom farming, herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants, organic fruits and vegetables processing, handlooms and handicrafts, bee keeping, meat and poultry products, cereal based products, consumer industry, milk and milk based products, food processing, paper products, jute and mestas products, cattle rearing, fishery, edible oil, processing of oils and fragrances, gas based intermediary products, floriculture, spices production and processing wood based products etc. Women possess sufficient talents with all the qualities and abilities required for successful entrepreneurs. A favourable environment is to be created which can motivate, encourage and provide required facilities to women to be successful entrepreneurs. There should be an incessant attempt to motivate, give confidence, inspire and assist women entrepreneurs. The participation of women in MSME sector has been identified in three different roles. Some women are owners of enterprise, some are managers of enterprise and some are employees. According to third census of MSEs (20012002), the number of women enterprises was 1, 37, 534 and number of enterprises actually managed by women was 1, 14,361 accounted for 10.11% and 9.46% of the total units respectively. About 13% of the women enterprises were in the registered MSE sector and the remaining 87% were in the unregistered MSE sector. With regard to the enterprises managed by women, 11.5% were in the registered MSE sector and 88.5% were in the unregistered MSE sector. The share of units managed by women in terms employment was 7.14%. The total number of female employees in the MSE sector is estimated at 33, 17,496.Entrepreneurship among women of the Northeastern states has been gradually gaining popularity during recent years. In 2001-02, total numbers of women enterprises in the region was 31,072 and enterprises managed by women were 28,090 accounted for 9.8% and 8.9% of total MSEs of region.

It is the need of the hour to help Women to scale new heights in their entrepreneurial journey. The right kind of assistance from family, society and Government can make these Women Entrepreneurs a part of the mainstream of national economy. Remembering the quotation "Woman is the full circle, within her is the power to create, nurture and transform."

Subir Bhaumik Since the four-nation grouping BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) originated at the end of the last century India has been circumspect about taking it forward. Delhi was happy relegating the Chinese proposal for the BCIM economic corridor to joint study groups, playing for time as it formulated a response to China's smart geo-political move.

That did not augur well for Northeast. In one conference after another across India -- and in one held at Singapore -- I have argued that India's 'Look East' through Northeast will never work if its focus was restricted to south-east Asia.

My argument was based on straightforward logistics -- it is easier and cheaper in terms of distance and transport cost to access much of southeast Asia by sea. Why would a Mumbai or South Indian exporter take the trouble of going overland through Northeast India and Upper Burma (with all its insurgency problems) if it could just load the cargo on a ship to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia or Philippines. That is hal;f the distance, one-third the cost.

Only some countries like Laos are possibly better accessed overland.

But would the Northeast attract Indian manufacturing if promised the Laotian market? They would come only if promised an opening to the vast markets of southwest China. Why? The Chinese have higher spending power, are more numerous.

The answer is again in distances. A Chinese port like Shanghai is 5500 kms from Kolkata and taking anything to Yunnan or Chengdu would mean another 2500-3000 kms by road. But the Stillwell road is just 3000 kms and Indian manufacturing units located in Northeast would need to carry their goods half the distance if the BCIM development corridor opens up along an highway that would

link Kolkata to Kunming through Bangladesh, Northeast India and Upper Myanmar.

In short, it makes sense to trade overland with China and not with southeast Asia.

Modi's emphasis on 'Act East' (stressing on the importance of the Look East) policy is welcome but it would only benefit the Northeast if China was in the matrix and not merely south-east Asia.

A survey by the Guwahati-based CESPR in 2014 indicated that decision-makers across the northeastern states were most interested about BCIM taking concrete shape. Traders, state bureaucrats, mediapersons and academics interviewed by the CESPR said China was not a threat but an opportunity .

Finally after years of slow-footing , Delhi is waking up to the fact that there can be no Act East without China and it is better to deal with the Dragon in a multinational grouping than bilaterally.

Participating in the 11th Kolkata-Kunming (K2K) Forum in Calcutta this week (23-24th Nov) , a senior foreign ministry official strongly pitched for BCIM and K2K initiatives. " The BCIM is the point where the markets of China joins with those of South Asia and Southeast Asia. This sub-region is isolated from the world market and large scale investments in infrastructure is needed to change that," said K Nagraj Naidu , who now heads the division on investment and technology promotion in the ministry of external affairs.

"A more interconnected region will not only be a driver for economic growth but also a harbinger of regional peace and stability," Naidu said to huge applause by Chinese and Indian delegates.

Naidu said the BCIM and K2K visions fitted squarely in India's "Act East" policy that sought to connect the Indian mainland to theNortheast through Bangladesh and further on to South-east and East Asia. It will be useful to recall that Chi-

nese prime minister Li Keqiang, an economist of no mean stature, has repeatedly stressed this point in his meetings with Manmohan and then Modi.

The Chinese wanted to focus on the complimentarities in China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and India's Look East.

Now veteran diplomats like Shyam Saran are saying India should use the Chinese infrastructure built under the OBOR initiative for its Act East policy. This is precisely what I have argued -- and so has my good friend Binoda Mishra, the secretary general of the K2K Forum.

At the risk of many in India feeling we were going too far down the Chinese path, we argued this was in India's best interest.

If China paid for a new deep sea port in Bangladesh, which we cant pay for, it will help us access our Northeast more easily because Chittagong like Calcutta is an old port .

Also as someone from Northeast , I am understandably not interested in conflict but in cooperation with China because the 1962 'leaving Assam to its fate' sits heavy on our memory. No mature power sees war as a viable option any more -even globo cop US is too tired . Even after the Turkish air force shot down the Russian fighter jet, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out a war with Turkey . So while predicting a war with China seems to be becoming a cottage industry in Indian academia (with understable patronage from countries who see India as a 20 billion dollar arms market ) , the reality on ground is different .

India has the advantage of having a very capable foreign secretary in S Jaishanker who has been ambassdor both to China and US and knows both countries ( and their think-tanks) well. I could see his obvious influence on the though process that Nagraj Naidu outlined at K2K this week.

Naidu said Prime Minis-

ter Narendra Modi has already emphasized on regional diplomacy to connect to the immediate and larger neigjhborhood . As part of the 'Act East' policy, he said, the Modi government has sanctioned 11 projects that would cost the national exchequer $ 1.5 million.

To connect all capitals of Northeastern states by rail by 2020 is part of this plan, he said.

"The eastern and northeastern states are at the heart of the BCIM and K2K (Kolkata to Kunming) processes. Our connectivity plans with Bangladesh and Myanmar are all part of the Act East policy," said Naidu, who has served as Consul General in China's Guangzhou city before.

Naidu said that the state governments of east and Northeast India must capitalise on the opportunities created by the 'Act East' policy and the transnational; connectivity now being developed.

"These states, specially West Bengal, must explore export opportunities in Myanmar, Bangladesh and specially China to develop their economies.

That will all add up to national growth," Naidu said.

Naidu's real punch came at the very end -- the BCIM corridor was important for changing the lives of the people who lived alongside it . And that the interests of the Northeast were uppermost in Delhi's calculations while promoting the BCIM corridor.

Hopefully this would now translate to Sino-Indian joint ventures in the

Northeast , specially in infrastructure , an area none can now beat the Chinese. In Northeast, we need quality infrastructure to attract investments, because that happens not when ministers talk about it but when there is enough going for business in the area.

If Modi can attract huge Chinese investment to his Gujarat state as chief minister, nothing should stop our laidback leaders from doing so.

And for those in Delhi who advise caution, let me point out the huge conceit in this whole 'security first' argument.

While Assam did not get a refinery for its crude and that went to Barauni because it was considered safe, how can Delhi now go ahead with so many huge hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh!

Will they not be in the Chinese line of fire !

If China and India cooperate closely to develop the whole BCIM region , the possibility of conflict will recede further.

China is much more interested in trade and investment with India than in promoting Paresh Barua or Khaplang. Wild speculations by homegrown insurgency experts that China will

soon help Khaplang and Barua float an exile government are mere kite flying. I can bet my head on something like this never materialising unless India starts backing the Tibetans with weapons and bases all over again.

Borders and dams upstream will remain a cause for concern but both can be settled once the atmosphere of confidence is developed with initiatives like the BCIM and with growing trade.

Recall the 1950-60s .

Did we not first back the Tibetans before the Chinese started backing Naga and Mizo rebels ! That is different from Pakistan whose push for Kashmir's secession finally prompted India to intervene to create Bangladesh.

Delhi has get over fears that people in Northeast may tilt towards China because of their Mongoloid origins. Such naivete is not expected of a rising country but they do exist. Those who know what happened in Tibet and Sinkiang will always prefer India and not China but Northeast's future lies in cooperation and not conflict with China.

(Subir Bhaumik is a former BBC Correspondent and now works as Senior Editor of Dhaka-based bdnews24.com. His books on Northeast " Insurgent Crossfire" and " Troubled Periphery" are well acclaimed. His forthcoming book " Agartala Doctrine" is being published by Oxford University Press.)

The Dibrugarh Drain callous attitude of successive municipalities and other government machinery. Although the main purpose behind digging of the drain was to protect the city from the fury of floods. But the nonchalant attitude of the Dibrugarh Municipality has transformed the drain into a dumping ground, as a result, the drain becomes shallow. The drain which is supposed to flush out water - now is serving the negative aspect.

It is now a common phenomenon, certain areas like Kalibari gets inundated after a downpour as the dirty drain water permeates after over flowing the drain to almost every household carrying filths and other garbages. As the Kalibari road is a busy thoroughfare for going to the main market, people commuting along the road are compelled to change the road.

Successive Municipality Board fails to rid the people of the nightmarish experience. All these nuisances can be brought under control by digging the drain and undertaking cleansing work from time to time and maintaining a tough stand to those unscrupulous citizens who dump garbages into the drain. These are some of the suggestions one can put forward.

Not only the big drain but all the small drains of Sir, The big drain flowing amidst Dibrugarh proves to Dibrugarh flowing into the big drain need to be be rather a curse to Dibrugarh than a boon due to cleansed so that recurrence of floods like the last

one does not take place. It is high time for the municipality and the district administration to take appropriate steps. But fund is a factor, can the citizens expect adequate fund from the fund crunch stategovernment?

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh-786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

Op

Page 9

d e Munching on grasshoppers and silkworms at an insect-tasting workshop in Shillong

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Ornella D'Souza A fly in my chai used to make my skin crawl. But now that a silkworm and grasshopper have been sampled, I'd let the fly stay. Who knows what bonus flavour it'd bring along.

This awakening towards eating insects was courtesy a workshop at the recent Indigenous Terra Madre (ITM) event by the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) in Shillong.

Lesser known food cultures, crop varieties and sustainable practices of indigenous communities that can change the way we eat were the topics in focus.

Insects crispy

appetisers for India's northeasteners - were part of the menu. How these spineless beings could ensure we have plenty on our plates in the future as they easy to find, not to mention the nutritional benefits involved, was what the workshop tried to crunch.

Initially, the sight of those ribbed, glazed bodies with pudgy/toothpick-ish feet, gave wings to my entomophobia.

The arrival of each new insect on my areca nut plate left me contorting in disgust and terror. But this collective paranoia bred the instant camaraderie in the room. Like contestants on a reality show, we egged each other to take their virgin bite. Salt, chilli and bam-

boo shoot helped add flavour to insect-y taste.

Each arrival was formally announced - with information on preying habits, habitat, body mass, mineral stats and techniques of capture.

The weaver ant chutney, for instance, was served along with a video showing tribal Siddi women of the Western Ghats picking ants from the forests, shrieking, jumping as ants get into their hair and clothes. Central and northeast India have traditionally consumed this chutney to ward off colds, coughs, joint aches, and also as a supplement to a lactating mother's diet.

Coconut, salt, chilli, cumin, garlic and weaver ants are ground together for this thick, red chut-

ney so you can't identify the ant bits. The granules rub against the tongue, producing a fiery aftertaste that lingers even after drinking water. As for the sharp, pungent

scent...those are the ants.

And just when it felt like cakewalk, in came live specimens of what we would 'taste' next - the charcoal grey riverbed beetle from Arunachal

Rivers of liquor drag youth into whirlpool of self-destruction It will not be out of context to say that drinking is synonymous with the very existence of the many ethnic entities of the pre-dominantly tribal state Arunachal Pradesh and is a part of their culture. However, in the past the various tribes residing in the beautiful state of Arunachal Pradesh used to indulge in taking carbohydrate-rich noging or apong or marowa or chhang or O or kala apong or khaam or joo.

These fermented drinks prepared from rice and millet not having too much alcohol contents, in fact, supplemented the other food items consumed routinely by the ever hard working tribals of the state.

Their strenuous work and difficult life in the torturous terrains demanded the measured intake of rice beer. It is needless to say that the tribals in the past were responsible drinkers because the social norms and mores were pretty strong those days unlike today. The chiefs, GBs and the elderly persons who were known for their oratory skills realized their onerous onus and took drinks in a right measure. They were taken in great esteem by their fellow villagers and neighbouring villagers. So, they knew their importance and their responsibilities towards their societies. We must remember that the tribals believe in oral tradition having no written code whatsoever. Everything including folk songs, folk tales and chanting of the tribal priests is communicated or passed to one an-

Denhang Bosai other from mouth to mouth.

So, in the past, they understood the great importance of being in complete sense not to falter while discharging their assigned societal duties. This is probably what made them disciplined and responsible drinkers. I have never seen my father drunk or talking nonsense during any occasion in my whole life. He has been taking drinks since his youthful days. Today, he is inching towards the milestone 100 years, still hale and hearty. The best Doctors I know have certified that he has no serious organic problems except the old age-related ailments. This is the basic difference between our generation and that of our elders. Even while indulging in a 'vice' they were responsible and disciplined.

Unfortunately, after Arunachal Pradesh was declared a wet state, thousands of IMFL outlets sprang up in the state. Today, things have come to such a pass that one would get an IMFL shop at every step in the capital Itanagar and all the district headquarters including in the small towns. Little wonder then, the number of habitual drinkers had also burgeoned by leaps and bounds. Sadly, even the elderly villagers who used to relish locally brewed rice beer have started preferring this potentially harmful IMFL because it is readily available and also because it gives them intoxication

faster. However, the greatest harm or threat this IMFL poses to is the youth of the state. No party, picnic, celebration or even a simple get-together is incomplete without drinks and getting inebriated. I have visited many festivals, food festivals and what have you and what I saw there was painfully appalling and deeply concerning. Everywhere I saw the young people indulging in heavy drinking.

Recently there was a musical programme in a small town in the state. I saw most of the young people including, hold your breath, young school girls getting drunk.

This is a serious issue that parents, Teachers, NGOs, intelligentsia and the religious institutions have to collectively address sooner than later. This rampant use of drinks or alcohol in every occasion and under the smallest pretext is dragging the youth into the whirlpool of unfathomable self-destruction. If the trend is not checked and allowed to merrily go on then rest assured, the future of the state is bleak. How can one's future be safe and secure when the youth on whose shoulders the future lies indulges in a terrible vice like alcoholism? It will be an unpardonable crime on our part if we pretend that all is well with our youth.

Unchecked alcoholism among our youth today is a reality and we must accept this truth and help our young people come out of this dark abyss. I have help-

lessly seen many precious lives being lost due to alcoholism. People should not and must not be hypocrites. They should not run away from the truth. The state of Nagaland is known as dry but it's also known as the 'wettest dry' state as liquor is easily and readily available there. No celebration there is complete sans liquor. The same is the case in Gujurat and other dry states where liquor is sold in the black market. The women's groups can play an important role in checking the unchecked rise of alcoholism like the famous MEIRA-PAIBI groups in all the villages of Manipur.

The women's wing of the Adi Bane Kebang is also contributing its bit in checking alcoholism. In Tirap district the women's groups of Borduria village impose fine on people who sell liquor in their shops.

Such activities can act as a deterrent against growth of alcoholism.

I see people gulping down a quarter of a cheap IMFL in one go without even diluting it with water.

Interestingly, a small place like Khonsa has about 24 IMFL outlets whereas there are hardly two bookstalls.

So, we can imagine where the youths are heading for.

Leave alone the authorized IMFL shops, one finds liquor being openly sold in ghumtis, tea stalls, roadside dhabas etc all over Arunachal Pradesh. The most frightening aspect is that the long distance bus drivers, truck drivers and individuals driving their cars, enter the roadside

dhabas to have a few drinks thereby endangering their own lives and that of others. These habitual irresponsible drinkers must realize that these whiskies, brandies, rums etc are basically made for the people living in the colder European countries. They don't suit the people living in a comparatively humid and hot country like India. It would be foolhardy to ask the government to ban IMFL because it is one of the main revenue earners for the state in the absence of any industry worth its name. The only remedy is that the denizens have to be responsible drinkers and should know when to say enough. Thanks to over consumption of IMFL, alcoholrelated ailments and death are on the rise in the state. The authorities should also be more vigilant to check the mushroom growth of unauthorized sale of IMFL in ghumties, tea stalls and roadside dhabas in the state. Here, the role of the parents and Teachers is of paramount importance. As elders we can't afford to quietly watch our tomorrow being destroyed by alcoholism right in front of our eyes. The posterity and history will not forgive us if we cannot save our children from this malady. Every one of us must contribute to defeat this malaise and save our children from imminent ruins and doom.

The December-January is a time for many celebrations and parties. Let's caution our young people to be responsible when they drink, drive and handle their lives in their own interest and in the interest of their state whose future depends on them.

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

Book Review: The legend of Lachit, the Mughal slayer Amlan Jyoti Hazarika The almost-unknown story of Lachit Borphukan, the Ahom warrior who stood up to the mighty Mughals, flows as smoothly as the Brahmaputra itself, with the author interspersing historical fact with a vivid Amar Chitra Katha-like narrative, says Amlan Jyoti Hazarika Book: Brahmaputra- The Story of Lachit Barphukan, Assamese Contemporary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Author: Aneesh Gokhale Publisher: Speaking Tiger Pages: 216 The name may not ring a bell for most outside Assam, but the story of Lachit Borphukan, a great warrior and a contemporary of Chhatrapati Shivaji, is the stuff of legend and folklore. As Aneesh Gokhale's narrative suggests, the two men had similar traits and destinies, especially their love for their land and people and the unflinching determination to defend both in the face of danger. While Shivaji's sphere of action

was middle India, especially the Maratha-ruled kingdoms around Pune, Lachit fought valiantly to get the adversaries out of his motherland, Assam.

Their foe - the marauding Mughals.

Brahmaputra flows as smoothly as the river itself.

What keeps one glued to the tale is Gokhale's unusual manner of storytelling interspersed with historical facts and Amar Chitra Katha-like depiction.

The story is set during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb, who had brought nearly all of India under his dominion but faced two challenges - in the west and in the northeast. Most of us know about Shivaji and the Marathas, but few know of Lachit and the Ahoms, who ruled over modern Assam and surrounding areas for over 600 years before it was annexed by the British in 1826.

Gokhale must be applauded for his effort to

bring to 'mainland' India the little-known story of a man who stood up successfully to a mighty power.

The stories of Shivaji, a king, and Lachit, commander of the Assamese army, run parallel to each other, bound, as the author puts it, by their "undying patriotism, will to set right historical wrongs and the bravery needed to stand up to a huge empire".

In 1661, Aurangzeb deputed commanders Mir Jumla and Diler Khan to Bengal and Assam and Shaiste Khan to the Deccan. While the huge Mughal army under Mir Jumla conquered parts of Assam till Guwahati, Shaiste Khan wrested Pune's Lal Mahal.

The Mughals decimated everything in their way.

Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha, the Ahom monarch, was worried. Sitting in his court in capital Gargaon, about 400km from Guwahati, he contemplated the future of his beloved land. Then his gaze fell on Lachit - the leader of his bodyguards. A tough, well-built man with his

Cover page of Brahmaputra- The Story of Lachit Barphukan, Assamese Contemporary of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Source:dnaindia.com

heng dang (like a Samurai sword) dangling from his cummerbund.

Lachit was made the Borphukan (commander) of the army. Guwahati was eventually won back from the Mughals. But Lachit knew that was just the beginning. Aurangzeb would certainly send a larger force to regain his lost ground.

And so he did, with the famed Ram Singh as com-

mander.

The author goes on to regale readers with details of the epic battle. The Assamese army started fortifying Guwahati on the banks of the Brahmaputra.

A messenger conveyed the news that Ram Singh had almost reached Guwahati.

It was getting dark, and part of an important fort had still not been completed. The man overseeing the work was Lachit's own maternal uncle. A furious Lachit thundered, "My uncle is not greater than my motherland", and ordered him to be beheaded.

Over the next few days, Lachit fell ill. When he learnt of Lachit's illness, Ram Singh moved his fleet forward in the oceanlike river. Lachit wrapped a shawl over his body, unsheathed his heng dang, and boarded his boat. The Mughals faced a resounding defeat in the naval battle of Saraighat in 1671. That was the end of the Mughals in Assam.

The waters of the Brahmaputra flowed as smoothly as ever.

Pradesh; our palpitations were revived when they fluttered their wings every so slightly. Locally known as rees / tarri, they were served as a salad. Villagers find these winter hibernators under stones in dry riverbeds, where they are hiding after a feast on rice, litchi or mango. Pound into paste, they are then mixed with onion, garlic, chilli, salt, tomato and carrots to make a zesty, spicy salad with flavours that go well with steamed rice and fish.

From Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya, came deep fried and chutney versions of the eri silk worms, with red and white slices of putharo, local Khasi bread. The fried worms put us off with their ribbed, capsu-

lar bodies and stubby legs. So, I was surprised to encounter tender prawn-like. flesh beneath a slim crust. The smoky, yellow chutney had bamboo shoots, lemon and basil.

The show-stopper was a lavish buffet from Nagaland - carpenter worm, honeybees, grasshoppers, spider and various kinds of caterpillars (larvae, bamboo worm, silkworm) with a mash of purple and white sweet potato and herb, bamboo shoots and tomato salad.

I am still salivating over the carpenter worms, grasshopper, larvae and bees. Pink and tender, the carpenter worm was an explosion of juices, especially its dominant earthy flavour of oakwood - the tree is the worm's home

and manna.

I got the heebie-jeebies with the grasshopper, as its intact compound eyes stared back at me; its slick oiled body with folded wings and legs seemed menacing, I practically threw it in my mouth before I could change my mind.

A good decision. It was a surround-sound crunchy experience, with sparse yet tough meaty bits. Like prawns fried crisp to the core. The larvae were exactly like tender chicken. The honeybee, its white (nascent form) and black (mature) variants, tossed in chilli powder, vinaigrette and local basil, was another combo of crispy and soft meat. I scoured for another grasshopper but they had run out of it. Courtesy:dnaindia

Happydent ad is one of the best of this century, says report Remember the Happydent commercial from a few years ago, where a palace is lit up by the kingdom's subjects with Halogen-bright smiles? According to a Gunn Report survey, it was polled as among the 20 Best Commercials of the 21st Century. In the recently-released line-up of the best ads from 2000 to 2015, this McCann Erickson Mumbai creative for Happydent Teeth Whitening Gum, is

risky to some. But above all, [it was] Ram Madhwani, the director of this ad who partnered me in this journey and took the script to an absolutely amazing height and our ever-solid McCann creative team, led by Anirban Sen, and the Equinox team, led by Manoj Shroff‌ Now that it makes it to the top ads of the century, it's a proud moment for all of us."

The Gunn Report results

tional approach of a gum that whitens your teeth will not be a solution for our country, where oral hygiene -- in terms of whitening -- does not carry the same currency as it does in the West. In fact,paan and supari (betel nut) stains have been a part of our culture.

Hence, I followed my gut and, instead of a functional depiction, exaggerated the benefit of whiteness to the hilt." After the first, photographer com-

the only Indian entity.

Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Asia Pacific, and CEO and Chief Creative Officer, McCann Worldgroup India, who created the ad, is thrilled.

"Conceptualising and writing the Happydent ad will always stay special for me," he said. "It was immensely satisfying as a creator, and also as an advertising professional, as it strengthened my belief that, apart from communicating and building brands, ideas also dramatically impact hardcore sales. Which is what this ad campaign historically did for the brand. It also taught me a very important lesson that great work can never happen without great partnership with your client and your creative partners."

Acknowledging several others members of this winning team, Joshi added: "Sameer Suneja, now the global CEO of Perfetti, has great instinct. He was bold enough to let me execute this idea, which would have sounded absurd or

were based on a public poll of a list of 30 candidates, with provisions made for other nominations. Gunn was able to select the Reel of The 20 Best Commercials of The 21st Century So Far which complements the much-viewed Gunn Report collection of The 100 Best Commercials of The 20th Century.

Commenting on the 20 Best Commercials of the 21st Century So Far list, Donald Gunn, Founder of The Gunn Report, said: "We're delighted that the participation was high, the result of which is a reel selected by our industry of iconic, gamechanging and much-loved commercials produced during the last 15 years.

Not only do these commercials stand the test of time, but they have also influenced changes in brand communications.

As such, we hope that they will bring inspiration and learning taking our industry to new creative heights."

On how the Happydent ad came about, Joshi said: "I always felt that a func-

mercial of 'Ismile pliz' proved to be a hit, Joshi's challenge was to take the idea of a whitening gum forward. "The regal and feudal Indian past triggered off the idea of a fantastical, imaginary world lit by sparkling human teeth," he said. "It went on to be voted as the best commercial done in the history of Indian Advertising. The first ad film to win two Lions at the Cannes Advertising Festival. Its music got awarded a Gold separately."

Also on the Gunn list (with their respective creators), are the following campaigns: BGH Silent Aircon's 'Dads in Briefs' by Del Campo Saatchi & Saatchi, Buenos Aires; Budweiser 's 'Wassup/True' by DDB, Chicago; Cadbury's Dairy Milk campaign 'Gorilla' by Fallon, London; the 'Closet' and 'The Bear' campaigns for Canal+ by BETC Euro RSCG, Paris; Chipotle's 'Back to the Start' spot by Creative Artists Agency, Los Angeles, and many others.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

I-T dept allowed by CBDT to use emails to curb graft

New Year to be full of startup policy for Indians Bengaluru, Dec 7: The government is gearing up to unveil a new policy for promoting startups in January 2016 with an eye on boosting innovation, entrepreneurship and creating new jobs.

"We will come up with a full package of ideas and incentives for the Startup India initiative announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence day address to the nation," said a senior government official working on the policy, adding that it is likely to be announced next month. "The Startup India policy would be a set of significant measures to encourage entrepreneurship in the economy and we hope it would become a game-changer in making the ecosystem conducive for new ventures," the official said.

The policy, officials said, would bolster and complement the other initiatives already launched to promote new enterprises such as the Mudra scheme, short for Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency. Over 70 lakh people have got loans under Mudra, amounting to Rs. 44,000 crore, as of last Friday, December 4. "This indicates swift disbursals are underway. In his radio program 'Mann Ki Baat on November 29, the Prime Minister had said that 66 lakh people had been granted loans amounting to Rs.42,000 crore," the official pointed out. Separately, the Rs.2,000 crore fund of funds for venture capital investments has almost entirely drawn down its corpus, the official added. Finance

Eating out, movies, air and train travel to cost more from April 1

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Goods and services Tax, once implemented, is likely to make the cost of services charged in restaurants, telephony, train or flights tickets, beauty parlours, gyms etc. more expensive. GST will replace all the other other indirect taxes like the central excise duty, value added tax, service tax, octroi, luxury tax etc. with one tax rate of 17-

18%. As per a report, a panel headed by chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian has suggested a 'standard rate' of 17-18% on most goods and services. Quoting Saloni Roy, senior director, Deloitte (India), the report added that services will see rise in prices as the tax rate will increase from 14% to 17-18% once GST is implemented. The government plans to roll out Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 1 2016.

A Constitution Amendment Bill on GST is currently stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to differences among the political parties. (Agencies)

13% growth in India’s adspends next year: Zenith Optimedia Contd. from Page 1

Digital is expected to grow upwards of 20%, while all other media are expected to grow 5-10%. E-commerce, telecom, mobile phones expected to have the maximum growth followed by automobiles and FMCGs, it said.

While adspend growth is slowing in three out of the four Bric (Brazil, Russia, India, China) markets that were responsible for much of last decade's ad market expansion, India continues to combine rapid growth and large scale, making it a distinct hot-spot of adspend growth. The market is benefiting from sustained, healthy economic growth and strengthening personal consumption. With ad spends growing at double-digit annual rates here, Zenith Optimedia expects the market to expand by $3 billion between 2015 and 2018. Globally, Zenith Optimedia predicts ad expenditure will grow 4.7% next year to touch $579 billion, a 0.8 percentage point improvement over 2015: 2016 would be a 'quadrennial' year, when ad expenditure would be boosted by Summer Olympics, the US presidential elections and the UEFA football championship in Europe.

"The global ad market has enjoyed stable growth since 2011, with growth rates ranging between 4% and 5% a year, and we expect it to maintain this pace for the rest of the forecast period," the report said. Interestingly, while television is currently the dominant advertising medium with a 38% share of total adspend (in 2015), in 2018, Zenith Optimedia expects internet to overtake television to become the largest single advertising medium. According to the report, one of the reasons for television's loss of share is the rapid growth of paid search, which is essen-

tially a direct response channel (together with classified), while television is the preeminent brand awareness channel – and we expect it to remain so for many years to come. Audiovisual advertising as a whole – television plus online video – is gaining its share of display advertising.

Television offers unparalleled capacity to build reach, while online video offers pinpoint targeting and personalisation of marketing messages. Both are powerful tools for establishing brand awareness and associations, it said. Audiovisual advertising will account for a record 48.4% of display advertising in 2015, up from 44.1% in 2010, and its share can be expected to reach 48.9% in 2018. Also, in 2018, mobile advertising will overtake desktop and account for 50.2% of all internet advertising. Programmatic advertising will account for more than half of digital display advertising (53%) for the first time this year, and will increase its share to 60% in 2016. "We expect programmatic advertising to grow another 34% in 2016 and 26% in 2017, at which point two-thirds of global display will be programmatic," the report said. At regional level, fast-track Asian economies (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) are growing extremely rapidly as they adopt western technologies and practices while benefiting from the rapid inflow of funds from investors hoping to tap into this growth. China accounts for 74% of adspend in fast-track Asia, so its slowdown naturally has a large effect on the region as a whole. The expectation is ad expenditure in fasttrack Asia would grow 8.9% in 2015, and at an average rate of 8.4% a year between 2015 and 2018, down from 14.7% a year between 2009 and 2014.

(Agencies)

Minister Arun Jaitley had launched the India Aspiration Fund, set up under the Small Industries Development Bank of India or SIDBI, this August.

"Nearly 90 per cent of the venture capital in Indian startups is coming from overseas. We are trying to create a domestic VC industry and the Rs.2,000 crore allotted from this fund would enable seed funding for entrepreneurs and innovators," the official said, adding that a fresh tranche of funds would be announced for the fund in financial year 2016-17. "We need innovations that solve Indian consumers' problems, with a grassroots-level movement. Foreign venture capital firms tend to have a bias towards replicating business

NEW YEAR BOOST The government is gearing up to unveil a new policy for promoting startups in January 2016 with an eye on boosting innovation, entrepreneurship and creating new jobs.

The Startup India policy would be a set of significant measures to encourage entrepreneurship in the economy and the government hopes it would become a game-changer in making the ecosystem conducive for new ventures. models proven in developed countries," he explained. Mr. Modi had said on August 15 that

The policy would bolster and complement the other initiatives already launched to promote new enterprises such as the Mudra scheme, short for Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency.

Over 70 lakh people have got loans under Mudra, amounting to Rs. 44,000 crore, as of December 4.

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Source: www.dailyvedas.com

Nearly 90 per cent of the venture capital in Indian startups is coming from overseas.

Separately, the Rs.2,000 crore fund of funds for venture capital investments has almost entirely drawn down its corpus.

the government is looking at systems for enabling startups. "We must be Number 1 in

startups... 'Startup India' & 'Stand up India," the PM had said.

(Agencies)

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified an amendment in the Income Tax Act that would allow the department to serve notices to taxpayers through their registered emails and would also make it legitimate for assessees to file their responses and authenticated documents through electronic mails.

The measure has been initiated to limit public interface of I-T officials

ried out in the five metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Chennai. "This will eliminate the necessity of visiting income tax offices by the taxpayers, particularly in smaller cases involving limited issues and where the taxpayer is able to provide details required by the assessing officer without necessitating his physical presence," the CBDT said. The amendment was made in Section 282

with taxpayers and make all interactions recorded over emails. This is intended to curb alleged corrupt practices in the department, where it is often claimed that I-T officers unnecessarily raise new queries after every interaction. The department had earlier launched a pilot project to check how the new mechanism could be implemented across the country without glitches.

The test check was car-

of the I-T Act (service of notice) allowing for inclusion of taxpayers or taxpaying entities' email as the new mode of official communication along with existing modes like courier, postage or departmental dispatch. The tax department can now send official communication to "email address available in the last income tax return furnished by the taxpayers or in the case of addressee being a company, email address of the company". (Agencies)

Free virtual school of Khan Academy funded by Tata Mumbai, Dec 7: Khan Academy and Tata trusts have teamed up to build a quality, free virtual school. The philanthropic arm of the Tata Group has granted an undisclosed sum to the academy, a non-profit set up

by US-born-and-based math whiz Salman Khan - whose mother is from Bengal and father from Bangladesh - to develop courses for Indian learners. For the next five years, Khan will build a platform, adapt Indian courseware and scale up to provide free access to education to students in India. The first two years will focus on designing a set of educational resources for middle and low-income students in urban India with an early focus on math and science that is aligned to lo-

Industrialist Ratan Tata (left) shakes hands with founder and CEO Khan academy, Salman. Source: www.livemint.com

cal curricula. Additional content will be developed in the next three years. It may also get into the test preparation space as it has done with SAT in the US. "I forget the exact sum, but we will support the academy with all that is needed to be done in India," said Tata Group's chairman

emeritus Ratan Tata.

Talks are also on with some celebrities with wide reach to promote this idea of world class free education. A Hindi portal has rolled out. "We have a large body of work and when we build our team in India, we will start with developing content creation capac-

ity. We have English videos that we will subtitle and also some will be dubbed. But we are looking for other Sals here," said Khan, who is often described as the first global rockstar teacher.

Khan Academy will set up office in Delhi and this partnership will look at hiring Indian teachers and teach in Indian languages through videos that are mapped to the Indian education system, especially NCERT textbooks. "We are not challenging the traditional means of classroom education, but we do want to catalyze new classrooms for the 21st century," said Khan.

"The Prussian method of schooling has been prevalent since the 19th century.

We have to adapt to new methodologies for the 21st century." (Agencies)

Indian e-pay firms targeted by New York-based Sridhar Chitalya Kolkata, Dec 7: New York-based Sridhar Chityala, founder of venture capital firms Vedas Group and Elevate Innovation Partners, is set to enter India with plans to invest in financial tech and mobile payment companies. "We are talking to two prospective ventures, including one promoted by some wellknown senior industry people based in Bangalore. They are into fintech and mobile payment solutions. Without their approval, it won't be fair to reveal their names," Chityala, co-founder of the Global Payments Council who is raising $150 million under his EIP fund, said. He also plans to pick up stakes in other fin-tech and mobile payment companies and co-manage India specific funds, Chityala said during his India visit to firm up investments. He is also looking to become a co-investor in or co-promoter of India focused fund. Mobile wallets, remittances, small business, car and personal loans, portfolio management schemes, next generation of mortgages, insurance, forex transfers, entertainment e-commerce all riding on the digital platform are what interest Chityala. "Indian e-payment sector is at a nascent and native stage

and would soon enter the second stage of evolution where it would see small adjacent developments while in the third stage they will truly expand in scope where we need to come in. A standalone mobile-wallet doesn't have a future as it doesn't create any value. As unbanked people are brought into the electronic platform making them part of digital consumption story, mobile wallets will re-craft the whole engagement," Chityala said. Chityala, who passed out of IIT Bombay, left India for the US where he played a leadership role in the global evolution of elec-

tronic payment and financial technologies during his role as head of the telecommunications business unit at Citi Cards and head of e-business at JPMorgan Chase. Now he spends time managing his family-owned VC fund Vedas group, a seed and early-stage fund for start-ups based in the US, incubating entrepreneurs, advising SMEs and guiding the e-payment sector. His investments are broad-based through notable being firms MoviePass, which brings subscription model to content based consumption of entertainment in theatres, Dropthought, a next gen-

New York-based Sridhar Chityala, founder of venture capital firms Vedas Group and Elevate Innovation Partners. Source: static1.squarespace.com

eration data analytics outfit or Imergy, an alternative and cost-effective energy storage platform using redox flow battery technology. His interest in India stems from evolution of mobile banking, payment wallets and government encouragement of concepts such as payments banks. (Agencies)

Insects found in Swami Ramdev's Patanjali noodles in Haryana Ludhiana, Dec 7: Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Noodles lands itself in trouble within weeks after the launch. According to a news reports, a few bugs were found in its packets in Jind, Haryana.

The bugs were spotted inside the sealed pack by a man purchased from Swadeshi store in Narwana, according to a report. The shopkeeper has admitted that the packet was purchased from his outlet. The man has decided to file litigation against Baba Ramdev's Patanjali. After the launch itself Patanjali had come under the scanner of government where FSSAIsaid that Ramdev did not get approval for Patanjali Noodles. Ramdev re-

sponded that he never received any notice from FSSAI. Apparently, FSSAI had given approval for Patanjali's pasta brand. "We have licence for Pasta in central category from FSSAI. As per FSSAI, noodles come under the 'pasta' category.

FSSAI has given us licence for relabeling in the pasta category," Patanjali said in a statement.

Ramdev had launched Patanjali noodles just after Nestle's Maggi got banned from markets.

(Agencies)

TECHNOLOGY Infocus M260 8GB MRP: Rs 3999/HIGHLIGHTS General Brand: Infocus Model: M260 SIMs: Dual SIM Size: Micro Colour: Fluorescent Green/White/Orange Other Features: Email, Push SMS, SMS, IM, Document Viewer Display Screen Size (in cm): 11.43 cm (4.5) Display Resolution: 480 x 854 pixels Display Type: FWVGA Software OS Version: Android 5.0.2 Lolipop Camera Rear Camera: 5 MP Flash: Yes, LED Front Camera: 2 MP Processor Processor Speed: 1.3 GHz Processor Cores: Quad Core Processor Brand: MediaTek Memory & Storage RAM: 1 GB Internal Memory: 8 GB Hardware Accelometer: Yes Light Sensor: Yes Compass: Yes G-sensor: Yes

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Features

Page 11

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Downsizing food portion can solve obesity crisis You may want to downsize your food portions and tableware as a new study suggests that doing so is critical to tackle obesity. Reducing the size of large food portions, packaging and tableware could help to tackle obesity, argue experts.

Theresa Marteau from the University of Cambridge and colleagues recently published a Cochrane review that found the most conclusive evidence to date that people consume more food or drinks from larger size portions or packages, and when using larger items of tableware.

They showed that eliminating larger portions completely could reduce daily energy intake consumed by 12 percent to 16percent among UK adults, and by 22 percent to 29percent among US adults.

Following on from this, they discuss the policy changes that will likely be required to reduce the size, availability and appeal of large food and drink portions that could help to reduce over consumption, and prevent obesity.

They suggest the follow-

ing: - Reducing food and drink serving sizes that contain high amounts of calories such as the standard single serving of confectionery, chips and cakes - Reducing availability of larger portion and package sizes, for example, by removing the largest serving size of drinks - Placing larger portion sizes in stores and cafes less accessibly, for example, by limiting portion size at checkouts, aisle ends, and special displays - Restricting pricing practices that enable larger portion and package sizes to cost less in relative terms than smaller sizes, and restricting price promotions on larger portion and package sizes

- Highlighting single portion sizes in packaging - Restricting portion and package sizes in advertisements - Making smaller tableware, including plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery, the default for self service and served foods and drinks - Designing tableware to encourage smaller mouthfuls, such as, shallow plates, straight sided glasses, cutlery - Pricing tableware in relation to size They say the implementation of portion size interventions will be easier in public sector organisations, such as schools, hospitals, military bases, and prisons, than in industry.

Such changes will "pose major challenges," they add, and suggest a com-

bination of regulatory and non-regulatory measures as the food industry may find it difficult to act without regulation given "first mover disadvantage."

In addition, they say that reducing portion sizes may mean going back to sizes of portion and tableware similar to those in the 1950s, and changes may even involve reductions of over 50 percent for some energy dense products.

Lastly, they say although policy makers and the food industry have primary responsibility for action, public acceptability is likely to be an important facilitator. For example, they highlight the case of many tobacco control measures that reflected the mobilisation of public support. The study appears in The BMJ. (ANI)

5 Rice Dishes of North East Arnab Ghosh Along with animal meat like pork and chicken, people in North East India consume plenty of rice. Apart from using rice to produce beer they also have rice as a main dish in the meals.

The rice dishes prepared in these hilly states are quite tasty and they are not hard to prepare either. Below listed are few such rice dishes that are popular in the Northeast India.

Sweet Pulao (Assam) This is a popular dish made in many households in Assam. It is usually served with chicken curry. You will need ingredients like 2 cups of broken basmati rice, ghee, sugar, salt along with vegetables like peas, onions, carrot to make this dish. Other ingredients are bay leaves, raisins, cashews and cardamoms.

You should soak the rice for a couple of hours and the dry it post draining. Soak the cardamoms, raisins, peeled peas and cashews separately. Slice the onion and carrots. After heating ghee in a pan, fry the vegetables along with bay leaves. Then add the rice and cook on low flame. Add salt and sugar next. Add water to submerge the rice and other ingredients. Now use pressure cooker to cook this dish until the first hoot. Serve it warm with chicken curry.

Chambray (Sikkim) This is a popular rice dish in Sikkim. It is quite easy to prepare.

You will need ingredients like 250grams rice, turmeric powder, whole cinnamon, bay leaves, salt, ghee and black cumin seed.

You will have to soak the rice with cinnamon and bay leaves for half an hour or so. Then heat ghee in a pan and pour the spices. Then add soaked rice to it. Fry on slow heat until ghee gets separated from rice.

Add water to boil the rice. Put off flame when rice is cooked. Serve it with chicken dishes.

Xewali phulor Tita Bhaat (Assam) This is one slightly bitter Assamese rice dish that you will not resent gorging on! It is used to get rid of cold and flu mostly. The Coral jasmine flower (dried xewali phul) adds an enchanting aroma to the dish. You will need a cup cooked rice, dried

Mizo Bai ( Mizoram). Source:nelive.in

Coral jasmine flower (soaked in water), green chillies, garlic cloves, panch phoron, salt and mustard oil.

Heat up the oil and pour in the chilies, garlic and paanch phoron for sautĂŠ frying. Then add the soaked and drained xewali phul. After two minutes, pour the rice and salt. Mix for a few minutes and serve warm.

Kharoni Bhaat (Assam) This is also a traditional Assamese dish used to help people alleviate cold and cough. You

Kharoni Bhaat (Assam). Source:nelive.in

will need ingredients like Kolakhar, cooked rice, mustard oil and chilies along with chopped ginger, garlic cloves, onion seeds and salt.

SautĂŠ fry the ginger, garlic in heated oil and add the chilies, onion seeds later. Then add the cooked rice, salt and kolakhar. Mix well and stir fry for a few minutes. Serve the rice warm.

Mizo Bai ( Mizoram) This is one yummy and healthy Mizo recipe that can be prepared easily and fits in well for a filing breakfast!

You will need ingredients like a cup of rice, mixed vegetables including cauliflower, water, salt and green chili to make this dish At first, chop and slice the vegetables in all pieces and wash them. Soak the rice separately. Heat water in a wok and boil all the vegetables in it. Add the salt and cook till vegetables get soft. Then add the rice and boil until everything becomes soft.

Courtesy: nelive.in

Instant gas relief with 5 natural foods!

It is a common fact that most people tend to eat more when the food is just too delicious But, overindulgence in food can take your health for a toss and may lead to a bloated stomach due to indigestion which ultimately leads to excessive gas in the stomach.

This painful gas if not passed out either through burping or while flatulence, not just puts you in an uncomfortable situation but can also be a warning of serious health issue.

Here are few natural remedies to provide immedi-

ate gas relief: Ginger: Consume just the right amount of ginger about half an hour before each meal and feel the difference.

Garlic: Garlic is one of the oldest medicinal plants and is widely recognised as a health enhancing supplement. It not just gives flavour to your food, but

can also help aid stomach gas as it has high fiber content.

Cumin: Add a tablespoon of crushed cumin seeds to the soup to soothe the intestinal gases.

Basil: Taking juice of basil leaves with water empty stomach in the morning enhances digestive power and hence prevents bloated stomach.

Peppermint: Adding peppermint to your tea or eating them raw can help a lot in easing gastric problem.

Indian spices for health benefits Are you using your spices just to pep up your dishes? Well, it's time you know ways you can use them for their proven health benefits. We get some handy healthy tips from Luke Coutinho, head nutritionist and Master Coach - GOQii, Lifestyle Medicine and exercise physiology, Author and Speaker.

Asafoetida It's commonly known as Hing in India. It's warm in nature and that probably explains the reason it helps to increase the digestive enzymes. It helps reduce flatulence, digestive disorders, prevents constipation and is an excellent laxative. A pinch of asafoetida can be taken with buttermilk/ water to reduce flatulence and cleanse the digestive system. Also, it's believed to relieve menstrual pain. The active component of Asafoetida, coumarins can thin the blood and is believed to be anti-coagulant.

Also, helps lower blood pressure.

Turmeric Turmeric was once called a poor man's saffron, but now we know how incredibly healing and powerful this spice truly is. Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric that is powerfully antiinflammatory as well as rich in antioxidants.

Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own, and then stimulates the body's own antioxidant enzymes.

Curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to lead to various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin can help treat symptoms of arthritis and is in some cases

Source: elitevapor.com more effective than antiinflammatory drugs.

Ginger Chewing raw ginger or drinking ginger tea is a common home remedy for nausea during cancer treatment. It reduces the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea (severe pain during a menstrual cycle). Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of stomach problems including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

Other uses include pain relief from arthritis or muscle soreness, menstrual pain, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis.

Garlic It has been used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Garlic is used for many conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). It is also used to prevent colon cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer,

Source: fitlife.tv

and lung cancer. It is also used to treat prostate cancer and bladder cancer.

Black peppercorns Also known as Kali Mirch. Piperine is the active ingredient in black pepper, and it has been shown to jumpstart digestion, prevent certain cancers and heart disease, lower blood pressure, and prevent arthritis. It has cholesterol lowering properties and help in cardiac function recovery especially after a heart attack. Overnight soaked peppercorns if consumed next day while having breakfast relieves migraine problem for most of them. The antibacterial property of black pepper helps to fight against infections and insect bites.

Cardamom Cardamom also known as Elaichi. They are believed to stimulate appetite and enhance digestion. It helps in stimulation and regular excretion of gastric juices. It helps in balancing these acids in cases of acidity, thus providing relief during heart burns, flatulence, stomach cramps, hiccups, nausea, vomiting and constipation. It is also valued for improv-

ing oral hygiene and eradicate fowl breathe.

Carom seeds: These tiny seeds are popularly known as Ajwain or bishop's weed in India.

Ajwain contains high levels of thymol, a compound, which aids the release of gastric juices from the stomach which makes Ajwain`excellent indigestion reliever. To add more, it helps to deal with flatulence, nausea and colicky pain in babies. Ajwain has properties that help reduce inflammation and soothes irritated nerves. Because of this, it acts a great remedy to stop hiccups.

Cinnamon Commonly known as Dalchini. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial and anti-clotting factor. Cinnamon reduces total and bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL). It also helps improve insulin resistance and improves glucose tolerance in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, thereby making it useful in diabetes management. Consuming Cinnamon plus honey has many benefits one of which is that it increases body's metabolism and also helps in relieving gas and acidity.

Clove Clove or Laung is a pungent aromatic floral bud.

The most prominent and common use of clove is alleviating symptoms of toothache and dental decay. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic components present in clove helps to reduce the swelling around an infected tooth and relieve pain. It's antiseptic property will help fight the infection in the affected area and prevent it from spreading. Apart from this, Eugenol present in clove prevents clotting of blood and in purifying blood.

(Agencies)

cmyk

cmyk

"We were not good enough today. I don't know why. We could do better. We should play much more football, our pressing was not good. We were not compact, there was a lot of things we did not do well."

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Liverpool Manager Juergen Klopp

India ascent to No. 2 in ICC Test rankings post Proteas rout ANI Dubai: India have climbed 10 points to move into second place in the ICC Test Championship table after clinching the four-match series against South Africa by 3-0. The series result has helped Virat Kohli's side to move from 100 points to 110 points and ahead of Australia and Pakistan, which have slipped one place each to third and fourth, respectively. Meanwhile, Hashim Amla's side has retained its number-one Test ranking but their lead at the top has been slashed from 16 points to just four points. India have no more Test matches before the annual 1 April cut-off date, but third-ranked Australia will

host eighth-ranked West Indies in a three-Test series from 10 December, sixth ranked New Zealand will go head to head with seventhranked Sri Lanka also from 10 December, while fifthranked England will travel to South Africa for a fourTest series which will start in Durban on 26 December. To finish as the number-one ranked Test side at the annual cut-off date, South Africa will have to, at least, draw the series with England. Its failure to do so, will result in it falling from the top pedestal and handing the numberone position to Australia (provided it wins the series against the West Indies by 3-0.

Hockey World League Final: Australian beats Belgium 2-1

PAGE 12

India crush world No. 1 South Africa by 337 runs, win Test series 3-0 Agencies Delhi: India's bowlers, led

by Ravichandran Ashwin, displayed outstanding perseverance to end South Africa's dogged resistance and register a comprehensive 337-run victory in the final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in Delhi, on Monday.

Needing a mammoth 481 for victory, South Africa adopted an ultra-defensive strategy before being bowled out for 143 in 143.1 overs, the last five wickets falling for a mere seven runs in a dramatic collapse after tea on the last day of the match. The 3-0 series triumph enabled India to rise to No 2 in the ICC Test rankings. Fittingly, Ashwin got the final wicket with an angular delivery that Morne Morkel left and was bowled, triggering scenes of celebration in the Indian dressing room and among the players on the ground.

Skipper Virat Kohli and Man of the Match Ajinkya Rahane picked the stumps as souvenirs as the players

engaged in hearty celebrations and also thanked the spectators, who gave them a standing ovation. The Proteas, courtesy AB de Villiers's 43 off 297 balls, looked like pulling off an improbable draw from the jaws of defeat before India's bowling came to life in the final session courtesy pacer Umesh Yadav's fiery spell and Ashwin ending De Villiers's near six-hour resistance. Ashwin produced a magical delivery - a sharp bouncing off-break that de Villiers played awkwardly and the resultant catch was taken by Jadeja at leg-slip.

The emphatic Test series victory more than made up for the losses in the ODIs and Twenty20s played earlier. Credit should also be given to Umesh Yadav for starting the slide in the final session by rattling Dane Vilas and Kyle Abbott's stumps. Dane Piedt was gone when Wriddhiman Saha took a stunner. Visions of victory were raised in the post-lunch session after Faf

Indian skipper Virat Kohli celebrates after the fall of South Africa's last wicket in the fourth Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Du Plessis's resistance ended when Ravindra Jadeja bowled an armer which the right-hander intended to play for the turn.

It hit plumb in-front, much to the delight of Jadeja.

Ashwin got JP Duminy as he was caught plumb on the backfoot after placing a dozen deliveries. Having

got a couple of wickets, the drooping shoulders of the Indian fielders suddenly had some life in them. The Proteas, who continued with their 'Blockathon' added only 21 runs in the first session of the final day, consuming another 35 overs, while the post-lunch session produced 42 runs in 31

overs. With a session left, it looked as if South Africa were inching towards one of their most creditable draws in Test history. However, the Indian bowlers ensured that the hosts wrapped up the series in style. While the pitch made it easier for the South Africans but no credit can be snatched away from currently the world's best batsman, De Villiers, who showed that a class player can change and adapt his game according to adverse situations. De Villiers was in that zone where he did have only one thing in mind: defend dourly and destroy the opposition's confidence.

It was not destructive T20 batting for which he is so revered but slow disintegration of a team that has been on top on 10 out of the 12 days of Test cricket that has happened during the series.

There were times when the odd boundary was hit and the players carried out the formality of picking the ball from the boundary and throwing it back to the

bowler. In the morning session, Jadeja ended Hashim Amla's dogged vigil with a beautiful delivery but de Villiers frustrated the Indian bowlers no end. Amla faced 244 balls for his 'epic' 25 before Jadeja bowled him with one that drifted in and then straightened knock the off-stump. If Amla was not enough, in came Du Plessis, who surpassed his skipper's South African record, set on Sunday, of playing 46 dot balls before opening his account. Du Plessis played 52 dots before taking a single of the 53rd delivery. He in fact also surpassed Grant Flower (51 balls vs New Zealand in 2000) to become the third slowest player of all time to open his account. Obviously, the drab Kotla wicket, which became literally lifeless on the final morning, did help but it is never easy to save a Test match by batting out more than 160 overs though South Africa nearly did the unthinkable.

Pacer Akash Rajeev Shukla questions Govt.'s Sengupta bags five delay on Indo-Pak series Assam trail by 126 runs The victorious Australian hockey team after winning the World Hockey League Final in Raipur

ANI Raipur: Australian Men's Hockey team defeated Belgium 2-1, to lift the title of Hockey World League Final at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, Raipur. In the summit clash, after a barren first quarter, Australia surged ahead in 16th minute through a field goal. Seven minutes into the second half, Australia doubled their lead through a penalty corner.

Belgium pressed hard

`Injured` Dhammika Prasad ruled out of New Zealand tour ANI Queenstown: Sri Lankan fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, who has already been ruled out of the upcoming Test series, will now miss the ODI series against New Zealand as well after failing to fully recover from his back injury.

The 32-year-old suffered a back injury during his side's tour game against New Zealand Board President's XI in Queenstown. Uncapped left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, who has already replaced Prasad in the Test squad against New Zealand, will now replace the right-arm fast bowler in the ODI team as well. Meanwhile, Fernando, who is all set to play in the forthcoming series, had earlier featured in the Test squad to the UAE and Bangladesh in 2014, but did not get into the team. The two sides will play the twomatch Test series from December 10 followed by five-match ODI series from December 26 at Hagley Oval.

and in the final quarter and managed to secure a penalty corner in the final minute of the match.

However, it was not enough to take them over the line as Australia became the Champions of Hockey World League Final. Earlier, in the third place play off in the day, hosts India defeated world number two and defending champions Netherlands 32 in the shoot-out after the two teams were locked at 5-5 in the regulation time.

ANI New Delhi: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla on Monday questioned the delay behind the resumption of the much-awaited bilateral series between India and Pakistan, and called on the government to take a firm stand on the matter. "We welcome the discussions that are happening at the Government's level. But why is there a delay in clearance for the resumption of cricket between India and Pakistan. Either clearance

Rajeev Shukla

should be given or inform that the clearance will not be given, so that there is a clear situation.

I just want to know why

there is a delay, why they are facing difficulty in taking decisions," BCCI senior official Shukla. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) a deadline till Monday to make the final decision on the proposed series, which is to take place this month. According to PCB, they would be forced to call off the series if they don't get the nod from the Indian board immediately as the time is not sufficient to make the necessary

arrangements. Pakistan Prime Minister had already given permission to go ahead with the series in the neutrally-decided venue Sri Lanka.

According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the PCB and BCCI, both countries are scheduled to play six series between 2015 and 2023 after a clearance from the Indian Government. India have not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Sports Correspondent runs. Aakash Chandra Dibrugarh, Dec 7: Assam Nayak scored a steady 39 captain Akash Sengupta off 101 balls with the help bagged five wickets in the of seven boundaries while first innings of the three-day Rajat Das top scored with U-16 Vijay Merchant Tro- 53 off 127 balls with seven phy here at the boundaries. For DDSA stadium.

Assam, Akash Under 16 Odisha after Sengupta winning the toss decided to scalped five wickets in 19 bat first in the batting overs giving away 25 runs. friendly wicket. Assam Bishal Das took three wickbowlers have used the con- ets conceding 40 runs in 18 ditions well and maintained overs while Rituraj Biswas good line and length. In the took two wickets in 13.1 first innings, Odisha were overs giving away 35 runs. bowled out for 162 in 71.1 In reply, Assam were 36/2 overs. Assam pacer Akash in 22 overs at stumps.

Sengupta trapped opener Sambhav Jain 5 and Bishal M. Prasanta for 12 runs. Das 4 were still at the The first wicket of Odisha crease at the end of first day fell when their score was 25 play.

Cosmo Club in final Sports Correspondent Dibrugarh, Dec 7: Cosmo Club defeated Tinsukia Railway by three wickets and secured their berth for the final in the first Chandra Dutta Memorial Cricket Tournament organized by Tinsukia District Sports at TDSA stadium in Tinsukia today. Opting to bat, Tinsukia Railway were all out for 213 in 39.2 overs. Bimal Goswami top scored 57 runs off 57 balls

with four boundaries and one six. BM Rao scored 41 runs off 37 balls with three boundaries. Bishawjit Sarkar contributed 32 runs.

For Cosmo Club, Sushil

District Cricket Prashad bagged four wickets for 32 runs while Abul Khair took three wickets for 26 runs. In reply, Cosmo Club losing seven wickets scored 214 in 36.5

overs. Sushil Prashad top scored with 72 runs off 57 balls featuring eight boundaries and four sixes and remained not out.

Pradip Basfore scored 37 runs off 28 balls with four boundaries and one six.

For Tinsukia Railway, Bishawjit Sarkar took three wickets for 40 runs while Salim Ahmed took two wickets for 44 runs.

Tomorrow, Tinsukia Town Club will play Saptarshi.

Assam lost to Maharastra by ten wickets: U/19 Cooch Behar Trophy Mayukh Goswami Mangaldai, December 7: Host Assam has suffered a humiliation ten wickets defeat against visiting Maharashtra in a Cooch Behar trophy elite group C match at the Mangaldai stadium here today. On the third day of the four day match, the visiting team notched up their required victory target of 42 runs well before the lunch break. Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad who compiled a brilliant hundred in the first innings promoted himself in the batting order to open in their run chase and remained unbeaten on 24

along with the other opener S.D Jagdale on 16 (n.o). Earlier in the morning Assam resuming their second innings with their over night pair of Sandip Paul Mazumdar (28 n.o) and Bikash Singh (4 n.o) could last long under the accurate left arm spin attack of S.A Kothari(5/33) and Umasankar Agarwal (5/41) of the opposition and were bundled out for 123 runs in 59.3 overs.

Sandip added 21 more runs to his overnight score of 28 to become the top scorer with 47 runs in the host second innings. The visiting Maharashtra took only 12.5 overs to reach

the paltry victory target of 42 run and also earn full eight points from the match.

Assam Ist Innings: 122 all out in 52.4 overs ; Second Innings: 123 all out in 59.3 overs ( S Paul Mazaumdar 47 , R.Parag 18 , S.Jain 18 ; S.A.Kothari 5/33, US Agarwal 5/41 ,) Maharashtra: Ist Innings: 204 all out in 48.2 overs ( R.Gaikwad 108 , US.Agarwal 36, M.Dutta 6/69 , R.Parag 4/83) ; Second Innings 42 for no loss ( R Gaikwad 24 n.o , SD Jigdale 16 n.o). Result: Maharashtra won by 10 wickets.

JayBee Auto Agencies Pvt. Ltd. Chiring Chapori, T.R. Phukan Road P.O. Dibrugarh- 786001, Assam Duliajan- 786602

An ISO 9001 : 2008 Company Ph - +919954748962/ +918811098573 Email : jbaapl_dib@jaybee.biz

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

Editorial Adviser: Subir Bhaumik

Editor: Ripunjoy Das

cmyk

cmyk

Tele : Dibrugarh, 0373-2328944, for circulation contact: 8471896580, Telephone & Fax: 0373-2328944.