Walking the talk
The Assamese gamosa got
the GI (Geographical Indication) tag that will benefit around 48,000 registered
weavers in the state. It is one of the most significant achievements for Assam.
This development speaks volumes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concern for
the development of the Northeast, including Assam. It has proved that the Prime
Minister walks the talk. He means what he says.
The government of India's Geographical Indication Registry gave the Assamese gamosa the GI tag under class 24 with serial number 594. The Registry registered the GI to the Assamese gamosa in the name of the Directorate of Handloom and Textiles, Assam.
Geographical Indication is a label that appears on products with specific geographical origins and is associated with a particular location. This tag will end the evil twins (power loom gamosa) beating the Assamese gamosa in the price line on the home turf (Assam market). During Bihu or other festivals in Assam, power loom gamosas glut the market in Assam and spell disasters for the local weavers.
State Handloom and Textiles Secretary Dilip Bora rightly said that the GI tag would end the inflow of power loom gamosas to Assam, boosting the production by local weavers and their financial status.
Now regular use of the GI tag by the state weavers will hold the key to getting the benefits of this tag.
Topo Singha,
Milan Nagar, Barbari, Guwahati
Learning martial arts
We all know that India is the birthplace of martial arts like Kalaripayattu and Sarit Sarak but the social institutions have failed to include these martial arts in their system of things. There is a common perception in Indian households that one learns martial arts to fight with others. Martial arts not only add to physical well-being but also act as self-defense against bullying and ragging. Martial arts also help to keep people calm in difficult situations so that they can cope with problems with a cool mindset. Recently a ragging incident at Dibrugarh University rocked Assam where a student tried to end his life in order to get rid of the bullies. If he would have been trained in martial arts, he would not have had to go through all the pain. So, this is a humble request to the Assam Government to include martial arts in schools and colleges as a proper discipline and not an add-on course so that students can reap benefits from the course and also to make themselves ready for any unseen danger lurking in their future.
Noopur Baruah,
Tezpur
Politics at Nadir
Nadir is the lowest point. Unfortunately, the level of politics in the state as well as in the national level has dropped to such a level that any sensible person with self-esteem will have to think twice to join politics which were once adorned with ruling as well as opposition leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi, Gauri Shankar Bhattacharjee, Lakshyadhar Chowdhury, Sarat Chandra Singha etc to name a few who had high esteem for each other in spite of their political differences. The recent very derogatory remarks made by Badruddin Ahmed, a self-style maulvi and the mentor of AIUDF, a political party born to safeguard the interests of the illegal encroachers of the state, is utter shameful.
We the bonafide Asomiyas are simply helpless as the illegal immigrants are outnumbering the natives in lower Assam at the behest of Congress and AIUDF who were allies in the last assembly election of Assam. The ongoing verbal duel between APCC chief Bhupen Bora and AIUDF chief Ajmal is simply a drama enacted by both parties before the forthcoming general election. Ajmal's latest remarks against Hindu community and our CM should make all state politicians droop their heads in shame. A political head having no respect for the nation's constitution should immediately be expelled from the nation- lock, stock and barrel.
Joel Goyari,
TANGLA
Hike in milk
prices
The figures for wholesale and retail inflation may continue to show a decreasing trend, but in reality, the price of everyday consumption is continuously increasing. The recent increase in the price of Purabi Dairy by Rs 2 per litre has ultimately passed the burden of price rise to the common people. This has also cleared the deck for other companies to increase their price as well. Milk is such a commodity that is consumed by most people. There is hardly any house where milk is not used. Other than domestic consumption, it is commonly used by local tea stalls, hotels, restaurants and for making sweets. In such a situation everything that is made from milk will also be expensive and the poor will have to suffer the most. As usual, the companies have not cited any new reason for the justification of the price hike. However, it cannot be denied that expenses related to milk production have increased manifold in the last five months. It is noteworthy that most of the companies buy milk from farmers and livestock owners. In such a situation, the price at which the companies get milk from the farmers can be considered as a big reason for the price hike. Companies have been talking about spending about eighty per cent of their money on milk procurement. This time also, it is being said that the cost of milk procurement from farmers has been increased by 10 to 11 per cent. However, the farmers also have their compulsions. Rising prices of fodder has brought the farmers in trouble. In such a situation, it turns out that if the companies get milk expensive, then how they can sell it cheaply? The cost will be recovered from the consumer itself. Apart from this, many companies have also been talking about increasing operating costs. From the cost of electricity to the cost of packing and transportation of milk, the expenses are also increasing continuously. This also gives companies an excuse to increase the price but the way to recover this rising cost should be rational. Recovery of cost by putting the burden on the common man cannot be justified. Milk companies also sell a variety of products other than milk as well. Therefore, milk prices can be kept reasonable.
Abhijit Roy
Jamshedpur