News-Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves 4 laning of NH-37 sections

NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (IANS): A cabinet panel has approved the four-laning of three sections of national highway (NH-37) in Assam.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved widening of the 46 km Demow-Bogibil section at an estimated cost of Rs.522 crore; Jorhat-Demow (80 km) at an estimated cost of Rs.963.21 crore and Numaligarh-Jorhat (51 km) at an estimated cost of Rs.644.60 crore.

                The projects are part of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE) Phase 'A', the Road Transport and Highways ministry said Friday.

                "The projects will expedite improvement of infrastructure in the state of Assam and also reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Nagaon and Dibrugarh," the ministry said.

(Source:Assam Tribune, 20 Sept 2013)

News Item-49% of couples aged 31-40 in South India are infertile

Studies on Fertility are important aspect of Population geography. This interesting news item is a reminder of the emerging health issues of the new Indian families.

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49% of couples aged 31-40 in South India are infertile

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1891366/report-49pct-of-couples-aged-31-40-in-south-india-are-infertile

Friday, Sep 20, 2013, 12:49 IST | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

 

Almost half of young couples in the 31-40 years age bracket in South India are infertile, a survey has found. About a third of this group has already undergone IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment and the rest are considering opting for infertility treatment.

                Four out of every five individual surveyed accepted the benefits of assisted reproductive treatment and are of the opinion that procedures like IVF are safe and help in conceiving healthy babies.

The ‘Helping Families’ survey found that couples nowadays repose considerable faith in assisted reproductive technological advancements like IVF. When quizzed about their psychological makeup, respondents expressed tremendous stress and highlighted the need for immediate positive results.

‘Helping Families’ is a fertility survey endorsed by the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), the Asia-Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE). The survey conducted among 2,562 participants and 100 infertility experts from nine Indian cities, including the southern cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, and Hyderabad, revealed startling figures.

The decline in fertility started a decade back, with a troubling 17% decrease observed since 2000. Compounded by lack of acceptance and doctor checkups, the problem of infertility has raised multi-fold. Nearly 61% of the couples have been shown to derive information from sources like the Internet and friends. Even in the 21st century, 64% of the couples studied believed in god’s will and delayed treatment, the survey observed.

The consensus among fertility experts nationally is that there is lack of awareness among the public regarding infertility. In the quest for conception, the tendency of many couples is to believe and opt for alternative therapies and religious rituals. Thus, they fritter away crucial age and time. Women are still pressured in all aspects concerning fertility, increasing the stigma and trauma associated with this condition.

                According to experts, 63% of couples seeking infertility treatment belonged to the age group of 31–40. Among the reasons, male factor infertility was observed among 41% males due to problems concerning sperm (oligospermia or poor sperm count). About 40% cases of female factor infertility was attributed to polycystic ovarian disorder (PCOD), followed by tubal factors (35%).

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Article-Bhagavata theatre traditions of Sankardeva by ML Varadpande

It has been a healthy tradition at JB College,apart from the other places in and around Jorhat to organise religious theatre of Srimanta Sankardeva's writings. This article published in AssamTribune on 7th Sept on ocassion of the birthday of Srimanta Sankardeva highlights the origins and nature of the 'Bhaona' and the bhagavata theatre tradition that continues across the villages of Assam. I strongly recommend to all students to read this article,to know more about the history behind this tradition. The writer is a renowned writer and has authored numerous books on theatre culture across Inida.(some of his international books find mention here http://www.mlbd.com/AuthorDecription.aspx?id=4165)

Article- Bhupen Hazarika's Films

For those who know little about the cinematic creations of the legendary Bhupen hazarika, this article will enlighten and entertain. Article appeared in the Assam Tribune,dated 7th September 2013.(Panorama section)

Editorial-On Child Rights

This good editorial points out to a critical aspect of our world-the rights of Children’s as “human beings”. The issue of child rights have been a most neglected issue of our society-very few actually would acknowledge whether such “rights” hardly do exist ! but the western world has contributed immensely to institutionalize this noble cause.

Article appeared in The Assam Tribune, dated:7^th Sept 2013.

Article-A Fractured Society by Dr Arup Kumar Dutta

A beautiful piece of writing by Arup Kumar Dutta (Column-Plain Speak)- Must read for all students, to get a proper perspective of the turbulent times we are in at the moment.

<![if !supportLists]>-          <![endif]>Source: The Assam Tribune, dated:7^th Sept 2013.

News-'Kaziranga National Park may lose its World Heritage Site status'

‘Kaziranga National Park may lose its World Heritage Site status’
 KOHORA, Sept 6 – The Kaziranga National Park may lose its much coveted status of World Heritage Site for Nature and Wildlife, if the killing of one-horned Indian rhinos continues unabated.

“If the situation continues to be grim like Manas National Park was during the Bodo movements in the late 80s and early 90s , then UNESCO would definitely declare Kaziranga National Park as a World Heritage Site in Danger”, said a senior retired forest official. According to him, UNESCO would take a note of the present situation in Kaziranga which is not at all healthy.

While talking to this correspondent, Forest Department sources said that the root cause of the current crisis in Kaziranga was intelligence failure, since forest personnel could not pinpoint the exact location of either entry or exit of poachers in Kaziranga because whatever inputs the Forest Department received were only general and not specific.

Secondly, the sources said that it is not possible for the forest staff to intercept any poachers if the latter enter the park by the Brahmaputra river, since the long stretch of the river bank adjoining the park makes the task very difficult. The poachers are experts in carrying out their strategy perfectly and always succeed in killing the rhinos. They also get first hand information about the movements of the forest patrolling party and thus kill the rhinos and move away before the arrival of guards.

To get rid of this problem, the Forest Department will have to keep at least three informers, and provide them good incentives for specific information.

The sources also added that some tall towers may also be erected along the NH 37, and guards placed round-the-clock with night vision binoculars to trace the movement of any outsiders inside the park area. The young forest staff, who were recruited a couple of years back, can be brought over to Kaziranga and posted at the park for at least a minimum period of five years since most of the present forest staff in Kaziranga is too old for the job.

[Source:Assam Tribune 7^th Sept 2013,article by Debasish Baruah]

News-Hathei Phanit' The Festival celebrating Chillies.

Sirarakhong Shanao Long (SSL), a women’s group of the village located around 60 km north of Imphal (close to the road connecting Mahadeva and Pfuzero via Tolloi under Ukhrul district) have been organizing a festival called Hathei Phanit since 2010,to promote the chilly industry in this vast land, where Chilly is almost a staple food, the festival brings to light a variety of chillis grown in the village, which is known for its taste and look but unfortunately, due to the deplorable road conditions, a major chunk of the production could not reach the markets. The chillis produced in Sirarakhong village are taken to the neighbouring Nagaland and other states, including Assam, where there is great demand for this variety of chilli.

Article-Developing the Bell metal Industry-Dr Mukul Kumar Sarmah

Source:Assam Tribune 6th September 2013

News-Centre asks Koch Rajbongshis to drop statehood demand

Centre asks Koch Rajbongshis to drop statehood demand

Source:The Assam Tribune,4th Sept 2013.

               NEW DELHI, Sept 3 – The Centre today advised the Koch Rajbongshi community to focus their demand for safeguard of their identity and drop the demand for creation of a separate State of Kamatapur.

As part of its move to engage with organisations demanding separate States, the Centre today held the second round of tripartite talks with Koch Rajbongshi community in two phases. The first round was with Biswajit Rai faction of the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU), while the second round was with the Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilita Mahasabha (KRSM).

                The Sanmilita Mahasabha is a joint platform of at least 12 organisations. Interestingly, both the groups today brought along with them representatives from West Bengal to participate in the talks. The proposed Kamatapur state is spread over 15 districts of Assam including Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Baska, Barpeta, Udalguri, Darrang, Dhemaji, Kamrup, Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Sonitpur, while the six districts of West Bengal include Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda.

                At the talks with AKRSU, the Centre asked the agitators to focus on their demand for grant of Schedule Tribe (ST) status and safeguard of their identity, rather than demanding a separate state.

                Later, talking to newsmen at the venue of the meeting, State Home Commissioner Mukti Gogoi said that the Government has advised them to draft a report detailing the population pattern and map of the proposed Kamatapur state. “We have asked them to present us the population pattern of the proposed new state detailing the Assembly and Parliamentary segments,” he said.

                The State Home Commissioner was part of the State Government team in the talks that was chaired by Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North East). “All demands were discussed and we have asked them to come up with all relevant data in the next meeting,” he said.

                Briefing newsmen, Biswajit Rai said that their main demand is the creation of a state of Kamatapur. “We have also demanded Constitutional status for Koch Rajbongshi language,” Rai, who led a 11-member delegation, said.

Meanwhile, the discussion with KRSM was described as fruitful by former Lok Sabha MP Madhab Rajbongshi, who was part of the delegation.

                He said that they have explained to the Government the genesis of their demand for a separate state, which is based on the Merger Agreement of February 28, 1949.

                The officials have asked us to bring all the relevant documents in connection with the agreement at the next round of talks,” he said.

                The Joint Secretary also explained creation of separate State is a political issue, which has to be taken up at the highest political level, he said.

                On the demand for ST status, the KRSM presented to the Government all relevant documents, including Central Government’s assurance and recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee.

News-ASSOCHAM report on implementation of investment projects

Assam ranks fourth in implementation: ASSOCHAM

Source:The Assam Tribune,4th Sept 2013.

GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – Assam has the fourth highest rate among all States with regard to implementation of investment projects, even as the much-hyped State of Gujarat came at the bottom of the table, according to an analysis of investments carried out by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).ASSOCHAM said in a press release that Assam has recorded the fourth highest rate of implementation of investments at 72 per cent. “With over 82 per cent of investment projects under implementation, Haryana has recorded the highest rate of implementation of investments among industrialized States throughout India. Jammu and Kashmir (81.4 per cent), Punjab (79 per cent), Assam (72 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (69 per cent) are among the top five States that are currently witnessing a high rate of implementation of investments, according to the ASSOCHAM analysis,” the statement said.It said that investments worth over Rs 69.5 lakh crore or about 57 per cent of the total investments of over Rs 122 lakh crore attracted from various public and private sources are under implementation stage as on March 2013. The study said that inadequate addressal of project induced displacement, failure of implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policies, environmental clearances, bureaucratic delays, lack of clear-cut policies, among other factors, have contributed to lower implementation rates of investment projects in India.

Article:Civil Services Reform and development

Each year hundreds of hardworking and meritorius students are sacrificed at the altar of Civil services examination. For some it becomes a sort of a call for national duty. More pathetic is the amount of money that gets involved in the State level civil services exams-money that could have sowed the seeds of entrepreneurship in a poor economy as ours,are wasted in pursuit of some jobs, that offers a false notion of Power and Money. Parents throw their weight upon the childrens to compete and "naam roshan karo" of their 'dynasty'- while the applicants themselves follow the dream of "money and power" under the cloak of 'service to the people' parrotted lines. Civil services needs serious reforms- and this article puts some facts behind this established urgency. Source: The AssamTribune 2nd September 2013.

Editorial-Banking Services in North East India

Banking services constitute the backbone of the Services sector in our economy. A healthy and vibrant banking system,supports the process of economic development of a region-provides more than just safety to citizen. This editorial appeared in the Assam Tribune on 2nd Sept 2013.

 

News-CM grants 50 lakh for Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar

CM grants 50 lakh for Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar

JORHAT,AssamTribune Aug 31 – A day after reviewing the progress of various State-run developmental schemes in his native town Jorhat, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sought blessings of the divine at the Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar here on Friday morning for the well being of his family as well the people of the State. Amidst the serene atmosphere on the banks of the holy stream Diha, the Chief Minister and his wife Dolly Gogoi attended the namprasanga in the morning while the campus of the Bornamghar resonated with the sounds of cymbals and melody of devotional hymns. Gogoi announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the development of the Bornamghar, which has a historical legacy of Vaishnavite culture and tradition, as it was established by Mahapurush Madhabdev in the first half of the 16th century. Gogoi also announced that the pilgrim places which have already completed at least a century will be provided financial aid. “We need the Almighty to bless us with good health, energy and intellect so that we can continue to serve the people,” said Gogoi.

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Naga villagers pledge to save Amur Falcons

DIMAPUR, Assam Tribune 2013,Aug 31 – Marking a significant milestone for conservation of Amur falcons in the Northeastern State of Nagaland, three villages in Wokha district have pledged to save the migratory bird in Doyang Reservoir – its largest roosting site in the country.

 

With mass annual traditional hunting rituals of Nagas potentially threatening the species, a resolution has been cleared by the villages to penalise offenders, this year onwards. Village Council Members (VCM) of Pangti, Asshaa and Sungro signed a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Wokha-based NGO Natural Nagas, to assist the Nagaland Forest department to stop the large-scale hunt which was brought to light last year. Tens of thousands of these birds were reportedly hunted annually for their meat in the district, as they crossed the region en route to Africa from Siberia. Hunters turned their fishing nets upwards near the reservoir to trap the birds when they come to roost during late evenings or while leaving early in the morning. “Following a report on the hunting of Amur Falcons by Conservation India, a Rapid Action Project (RAP) was initiated by WTI and Natural Nagas to spread awareness on the plight of the species among the local communities,” said Steve Odyuo of Natural Nagas. The RAP, supported by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), approached the village councils for their help in preventing the hunt. A number of awareness meets and discussions held over the past few months, eventually culminated in signing of the MoU this week, encompassing a wide range of issues focusing on Amur Falcon conservation. The three parties will now be working together to spread awareness among the public through various channels. The team will also work to reduce jhumming (slash-and-burn cultivation) to protect the roosting habitat of the species. As agreed in the MoU, a resolution was passed by the village committees to fine hunters up to five thousand rupees. Protection groups engaging local youth from the three villages will be created to keep watch and ensure enforcement of the resolution to protect the birds this season. Sancsuo Shiciri, VCM , Asshaa, said, “This is a new thing for the people here. The way WTI and Natural Nagas have come forward for the constructive approach for the conservation of Amur Falcons, I think will bring a positive change in the future. We will give full support in every activity for the conservation of Amur Falcons.”  Ezanbemo Ngullie, Secretary, Village Development Board, Sungro, said, “The initiatives of WTI and Natural Nagas, have helped people know the importance of Amur Falcons. We are always with them and will support to stop the killing and hunting of Amur Falcons in the coming season.” “Conservation will only be successful if it happens from within, and in this case we are extremely grateful to the village councils for taking the cause forward,” said Sunil Kyarong, Regional Head, WTI. “The best thing about the RAP was that the village councils sincerely acknowledged the problem and themselves came forward with potential solutions.” “We have already begun implementing some solutions. For example, the hunt was predominantly carried out for meat, and so we have helped over 30 families that were involved in hunting the Falcons set up poultry farms and trained them for proper care,” added Odyuo. The initiative has been welcomed and is being enthusiastically supported by the local people. The poultry farms are being regularly monitored by Natural Nagas and WTI is placing a full time sociologist to work with the communities on a long-term basis. Working with the local communities and governments, WTI has implemented numerous successful RAPs across the country. Among the notable ones in the North East was the facilitation of the use of artificial Hornbill beaks in traditional head gear of the Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

Also read:- http://manipurupdate.com/?p=6914

News-Sivasagar as world heritage site sought

Sivasagar as world heritage site sought

SIVASAGAR, Assam Tribune Aug 31,2013 – The media fraternity here has appealed to the Sivasagar Deputy Commissoner Minakshi Sundaram to turn Sivasagar, which has an abundance of monuments dating back to the Ahom period, into a world heritage site. The media persons including Guno Barua, Manirul Islam Bora, Khairuddin Ahmed and Toufique Islam Bora met the DC on Thursday and briefed him about the various burning issues of Sivasagar and the importance of preservation of ancient monuments and the possibility of turning Sivasagar a world heritage site.

 

The media fraternity also expressed their ire over the non-preservation of the Sivasagar tank and Joysagar tank either by Central Archeological Department or the State Archeological Department. They said that Sivasagar has all the potential to be recognised as a heritage site having the Sivadol adorned with a golden pot, Bishnu Dol, Devi Dol, Asia’s first pavilion Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, maidams of Charaideo, Ajan peer Dargah etc.

 

The DC, accompanied by the media persons, later visited Sivasagar town and took stock of the burning issues of the town, like artificial floods, traffic congestion, encroachment of road / streets and said that a meeting would soon be convened with the chairman, SMB and the Superintendent of Police, Sivasagar to resolve the issues.