| REGIONAL/CITY
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updated : MONDAY
25
AUGUST 2008 |
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| Competition
of Govt offices in Tinsukia
district held
From
our Reporter
TINSUKIA, Aug 24: The Tinsukia
district administration as per
the suggestion of the District
Development Committee meeting
held on May 7 last had decided
to hold competitions in the
district, subdivision, and block
level to improve the work culture
and efficiency of the Government
officers.
In the first phase, it was decided
to organize the competition
among the Government district
offices. KK Dwivedy, the Deputy
Commissioner of Tinsukia district
constituted a panel of judges
to evaluate the quality and
grade the officers on the basis
of basic parameter as--punctuality,
attendance, condition of curtains,
computer, fax, type writer,
training, lecture hall, notice
board, complain box, waiting
room, vehicle stand, bicycle
stand, garden, use of Asomiya
language, maintenance of files
and registers, general behaviour
of the office staff, cleanliness
of the office and its campus
and others.
The judges’ panel consisted
of Swapna Dutta Deka, SDO (Civil),
PK Saikia, General Manager (DIC),
RK Sarma, Superintendent of
Sericulture, SK Gohain, District
Employment Officer, MP Roniar,
Senior Agriculture Officer were
the coordinators.
The judges’ panel inspected
42 district offices and submitted
the report to the Tinsukia DC.
However, no office of the district
found up to the mark to be included
in the excellent grade. The
DC Office and the Office of
the Chief Executive Officer,
Zila Parishad had been ranked
jointly in the first position
with the score 75. The Executive
Engineer’s Office for
PWD Rural Roads and Project
Director’s DRDA Office
were jointly placed in the second
position whereas the third position
was bagged by the Inspector
of Schools. The Town and Country
Planning and the Joint Director
of Agriculture have adjudged
as the lowest grade offices.
The offices were awarded in
the last Independence Day celebration.
The judges’ panel mentioned
in their report that due to
the competition, a new enthusiasm
had been found in the Government
offices. In each office, the
staffs tried to bring a change
in the office atmosphere.
The judges’ panel recommended
some suggestions to improve
the quality and environment
of the Government offices in
the district that included the
suggestion to reorganize the
competition in the month of
November-December and to make
arrangements to award the best
offices in the next Republic
Day.
The Deputy Commissioner should
held discussion with the heads
of the Government offices that
have scored less than 50 in
the last competition and to
take up the matter to the higher
authorities. The DC should take
steps for providing funds to
some offices as per requirement.
The heads of the offices should
held meeting at least once a
month to discuss on the strategies
to improve the system in the
concerned offices. |
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NGO
in a mission to combat human
trafficking, AIDS
From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Aug 24: The Nedan
Foundation, an NGO working
against human trafficking
and AIDS has been preparing
to intensify their activities
to combat against the evils.
The modality of the operation
against the human traffickers
has been framed and the grass-root
level workers of the NGO are
ready to face the challenges
of the matter which has emerged
as a threat to the society.
A training for the trainers
with the aim to counter the
human traffickers’ network
in the Bodoland region was
organized by Nedan Foundation
in collaboration with Centres
of Solidarity with a two-day
programme at Prasanti Lodge
here recently. More than 30
trainers of Kokrajhar and
Chirang districts working
in the grass-root level who
belong to Bodo, Adivasi and
Rajbongshi communities took
part in the training programme;
who are mostly the victims
of human trafficking and who
were rescued from different
places of the Country.
A film ‘Sold’
was shown in the programme.
The film mainly unveiled the
plight of the victims of human
trafficking who were forced
to work in the brothels. The
president of Nedan Foundation
Digambar Narzary delivered
the opening speech, after
the welcome address delivered
by the NGO activist Padmini
Brahma. Resource person Javita
Nara from New Delhi also spoke
on the matter.
In an interview with The Sentinel,
the president of Nedun Foundation
Digambar Nazary said that
the NGO had organized the
training for trainers with
the aim to counter the human
trafficking network in the
region in a very organized
way. He said that the Adivasi
relief camps, inter-State
and the international boundary
areas like Datgiri, Hatisar,
Daosri, Srirampur, Gossaigaon,
Kachugaon, Joygaon, Shantipur
are the most hot and vulnerable
trafficking points in Kokrajhar
and Chirang districts.
When asked about the number
of missing youths in the district
of Kokrajhar, Narzary said
that many youths mostly young
girls were found missing.
The NGO has confirmed the
figure of 110 youths who are
trafficked and supplied to
Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, New
Delhi, Bangaluru, Nepal and
other places and a good number
of young girls have been forced
to work in various brothels
of the Country.
He also said that at least
15 were identified as HIV
positive in the district.
Narzary said that six girls
who hailed from Baksa district
were rescued recently by the
NGO at Kokrajhar Railway station
from the Dn Kamrup Express.
They were to be supplied to
Gujarat via Howrah where there
were strong networks of the
human traffickers. He also
said that the traffickers
had changed the route due
to frequent checks in the
trains at the Kokrajhar and
Bongaigaon Railway stations.
Dhubri had become their new
centre, he said adding that
at least 55 youths of Datgiri
area of Indo-Bhutan border
and 15 Bodo girls had gone
missing from the Daosri and
Shantipur area of the Chirang
district.
ISI,
fundamentalists trying to
convert Asom into Islamic
country: HYCP
From our Correspondent
NAGAON, Aug 24: A silent conspiracy
has been continuing to create
an unrest and a critical situation
like Kashmir in Asom and to
convert it into an another
Islamic country, since a silent
invasion of Bangladeshis and
their settling down in different
forest reserves and grazing
reserves apart from the lands
belonging to different satras
situated in undivided Nagaon
district as well as in Asom
is going on unabated. It was
alleged by Brajen Kakoti and
Balen Baishya, president and
the secretary respectively
of Hindu Yuba Chatra Parishad
(HYCP) of Asom.
They also alleged that in
the year 1965, the then Prime
Minister of Pakistan Julfikar
Bhutto in a book written by
him cautioned that not only
Kashmir, but their aim is
to convert Asom and West Bengal
into Islamic countries under
Pakistan.
Moreover, the activities of
ISI was also alarmingly increasing
day by day in Asom, whereas
few other countries also have
poured oils in the issue.
Both the president and the
secretary said that with the
active support of few Arab
countries, the ISI and the
other Maulabadi organizations
have been silently running
their activities in the religious
minority areas to convert
Nagaon and Morigaon and also
few other districts into an
another Islamic country in
the East. They also alleged
that taking the advantage
of the prevailing situation,
AAMSU and other Maulabadi
organizations were pouring
oil into the issue. As alleged
it may happened that the AUDF
MLA Rassul Haque could have
make a demand for a separate
Muslim State.
BPPF’s
meet to restore peace held
From our Correspondent
UDALGURI, Aug 24: The BPPF
has convened a public meeting
at Rowta recently in which
they discussed on the burning
issue of communal clash in
the State in detail. The meeting
was presided over by Rabindra
Basumatary, the Udalguri district
president of BPPF.
A peace committee was formed
with Gajen Hainari as the
chairman and Abdul Lotif Mandal
as the chief convener. A series
of meetings held and tours
were made under the active
leadership of Pradip Kumar
Daimary, the vice president
of BPPF with this aim. The
committee will work for restoring
peace and harmony in the district,
said in a statement.
OBB teachers’
dharna on September 4
From our Reporter
TINSUKIA, Aug 24: Tinsukia
District ME Teachers’
Association submitted a memorandum
to the Deputy Commissioner
of Tinsukia, with copies addressed
to the Chief Minister and
Education Minister of the
State demanding the release
of salaries for last 17 months
along with regularization
of the OBB teachers’
posts in the district.
As per the decision of the
of OBB teachers’ association,
a two-hour dharna will be
staged in front of the District
Primary Education Office on
September 4 in support of
the above demands.
Dilip Lohar, president of
the Tinsukia District ME Teachers’
Association, under Operation
Black Board (OBB) scheme has
requested all the OBB teachers
to be present by 9.30 am on
September 4 in front of the
District Primary Education
Office for the said purpose.
Body
of the third missing girl
student recovered
From our Correspondent
MANGALDAI, Aug 24: The body
of the third girl student
who was untraced in the tragic
boat capsize on river Dhansiri
at Rangagarha Pathar near
the Orang National Park on
August 22 last, has been recovered
on Sunday morning at Dimbu
Sar at 8 km downstream of
the same river. The dead body
has been identified as Afroja
Khatun (13), a class
VIII student of Sialmari High
School and daughter of Nurul
Islam of Rangagarha Pathar
under Dalgaon police station
in Darrang district.
It may be recalled here
that on August 22 at about
9 am three girl students met
with water grave as the over
loaded country boat they were
boarding capsized on the river
Dhansiri. 67 persons of the
boat however escaped unhurt
as the police and villagers
assisted by Army promptly
recovered them. Meanwhile,
the Dalgaon police have registered
a case (No 362/08 u/s 280/304/427/34
IPC) against Jalaluddin, the
lessee of the Rahmanpur Ghat
as he engaged an inexperienced
minor boy as boatman to steer
the country boat which caused
the mishap taking three lives.
However, the accused lessee
has since been absconding.
One untraced after
encounter in ONP
From our Correspondent
MANGALDAI, Aug 24: One person
has reportedly been untraced
following an encounter with
the staff of the Orang National
Park on August 23 at Marasali
Tapu in the eastern part of
the Park under Borsola police
out post of Dhekiajuli police
station in Sonitpur district.
As it was learnt, a patrolling
team of the Park while carrying
out their duty inside the
territory of the Park at about
1.30 pm, noticed five persons
in two country boats were
entering the Park without
any permission. All the persons
except one managed to escape
from the spot. However, one
Kasem Ali of Basasimalu No
2 of Borsola police out post
under Dhekiajuli police station
sustaining injuries fell down
on the turbulent river and
his whereabout is yet to be
traced out. The Park authority
meanwhile has lodged an FIR
at Borsola police outpost
in this regard. Significantly,
the four persons who managed
to escape have reportedly
lodged an FIR at the same
police out post claiming them
to be the license holder fisher
men and accused the staff
of the Park for opening fire
upon them without any reason.
However, whether they are
involved with the poaching
or not is yet to be
ascertained, it was ascertained
that they had entered the
territory of the Park without
any permission from the Park
authority which is a gross
violation to the provisions
of the protected areas.
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ABVP: Bangladesh trying to wrest
control of Siliguri Corridor
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 24: The Akhil
Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
(ABVP) today sounded the alarm
bell saying that Bangladesh
is hatching a plan to cut-off
the whole of North-east from
the Indian mainland by blocking
the strategic “Chickens
Neck” corridor in North
Bengal also called the Siliguri
Corridor. The “Chickens
Neck” is a narrow stretch
of land, 21-40 kilometres in
width, connecting the North-east
to the rest of India.
All land transportation between
the rest of India and the North-east
have to make use of this corridor.
The route has a major broad
gauge railway line in addition
to the old metre gauge line
which connects the north-eastern
States with the rest of India.
National Highway 31 connects
Siliguri to Guwahati in Asom
which is the most critical highway
in the region.
Speaking at a press conference,
ABVP national secretary Suresh
Bhat said that a recent survey
has showed that the Bangladeshi
population is rising rapidly
in the Siliguri Corridor and
one day it might become a Bangladeshi
majority area. He asked the
Central Government for more
security forces in the area
to curb the strategic intent
of Bangladesh.
Bhat said that The Government
should make similar security
arrangements along the Indo-Bangladesh
border as those that are in
place along the Indo-Pakistan
border. One can see that the
security apparatus along the
India-Pakistan border is quite
strong with fences, floodlights,
observation towers, all-weather
patrolling and frequent checking
of the wire fencing, Bhat said.
Such arrangements if in place
in the Indo-Bangladesh border
will go a long way in halting
influx from Bangladesh, Bhat
said.
He said that it is encouraging
to see that the anti-influx
drive in Asom is gaining momentum.
But he cautioned the people
not to be swayed by the propaganda
of some inimicable forces who
are spreading the notion that
since minorities are getting
harassed in the whole affair,
the drive should be stopped.
The ABVP has been supporting
the anti-Bangladeshi cause since
the 1980s and the organization
will intensify its campaign
in the coming days. The ABVP
plans to start country wide
awareness campaign on the Bangladeshi
issue from September. It will
launch a signature campaign
in all the schools and colleges
of Asom in September and submit
a copy of the signatures collected
to the Prime Minister.
Bhat said that the issue of
influx is not only demographic
and social in nature but it
is also of a strategic nature.
The majority of fake currency
rackets in India has been known
to originate in Bangladesh.
This points out that the Bangladesh
Government with ISI support
is bent on destroying the economic
structure of India. Major terrorist
strikes in India have been planned
in Bangladesh and even Bangladeshi
nationals are involved in subversive
activities, Bhat quipped.
If the Government does not take
strong steps to counter this
menace things might go out of
hand, warned Bhat. No Government
in the world sits so casually
when one of its region is getting
flooded by illegal foreigners
and when a court of law states
that in the future, the illegal
foreigners would be the political
masters of the region, the ABVP
maintained.
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Reorganization
of Agriculture Department
demanded
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 24: The Assam
Agricultural Officers’
Association has submitted
a memorandum to the Assam
Pay Commission demanding the
reorganization of the Agriculture
Department by eliminating
2 cadres out of cadres in
the Assam Agricultural Service.
It said that this would create
more promotion avenues for
the officers.
The association also demanded
parity in status and scale
of pay of the graduate degree
holders of agriculture, veterinary,
medical science and engineering
at the entry point in their
respective service as decided
by the Government of Asom
in August 1977. The association
said that since officers and
staff working in the field
and laboratories are exposed
to poisonous substances, hazard
allowance should be provided
for the employees.
Netaji
Rath to enter city on Aug
31
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 24: The replica
of the historic march of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose’s
Indian National Army titled
Netaji Rath from Moirang in
Manipur to New Delhi will
enter Guwahati on August 31.
The march will start from
Moirang on August 25 and will
go through major capitals
and cities of India before
reaching New Delhi on October
21.
To receive the rath, a strong
Mahanagar Reception Committee
has been formed and the president
of the committee is none other
than the 93-year-old former
INA lieutenant Umesh Chandra
Deb Chowdhury. The committee
in its advisory cells consist
of names like Atulananda Goswami,
Dhiren Baruah, Suren Ram Phookan,
Dhirendra Chakkraborty among
others.
The committee has chalked
out routes to be followed
by the rath in the city on
August 31 and September 1.
The rath will cross Saraighat
Bridge and move along National
Highway 37 to reach Lakhra
Chariali at 10 pm on Sunday.
Here the rath will be given
a public reception and the
rath will proceed into the
city along the Netaji Subhas
Road to reach Lal Ganesh.
Then the rath will pass through
the Cycle Factory to enter
Bishnupur and take the route
of Sarabhati-Nepali Mandir-AT
Road-GS Road to Paltan Bazar
Netaji Chowk. After garlanding
the statue of Netaji, the
rath will move along GS Road
for Shillong.
On September 1, the rath will
come back from Shillong to
be received at Khanapara.
The rath will halt for the
night at Kamakhyanagar and
set off for Goreswar the next
morning.
The main aim of the march
is to get the report of Justice
Mukherji Commission tabled
in the Parliament for proper
discussion. The report deals
with the mysterious death/disappearance
of Netaji in 1945 in Taiwan.
The other demands of the march
is to honour Netaji’s
act of having named the Andaman
and Nicobar islands as Shahid
and Swaraj, to stop the drama
of preserving the so-called
ash at the Renkoji Temple
as the last inquiry commission
has stated that the material
has no connection with Netaji
and to recognize the date
October 21 as the real claimant
of being the revolutionary
independence day of India.
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