Letters to the Editor: Was Bajali district divided due to political reasons?

Was Bajali district divided due to political reasons?

Bajali, Assam’s 34th district, was formed around the culturally rich town of Pathsala—widely known for its strong roots in education and theatre. Despite being declared a district four years ago, Bajali still does not function fully as an independent district. With a total area of around 418 square kilometres, Bajali is the second smallest district in Assam. However, due to repeated changes in its boundaries and lack of proper infrastructure, its district status remains largely symbolic. The demand for district status for Bajali started many years ago.

In 2019, the state government began the official process. On August 10, 2020, the Assam Cabinet approved the upgrade of Bajali from a subdivision of Barpeta district to a full-fledged district. The official declaration came on January 12, 2021, by the then-Governor Jagdish Mukhi.

However, in a surprising move, Bajali was merged back into Barpeta on January 31, 2022. After massive public protests, it was once again declared a district in 2023. But this time, the area under Bajali was reduced. After the re-declaration, parts of the Bhawanipur-Sarbhog Assembly constituency were included in Bajali.

This decision led to strong protests in Barpeta district, forcing the government to readjust the boundaries again. On October 12, 2023, the district was re-announced with even smaller borders than before. This continuous shifting of areas between Bajali and Barpeta has led to major confusion—both for government departments and for the people living in these areas. A key example is Bhattadev University in Pathsala. Its newly built second campus was shifted out of Bajali and brought under Barpeta’s control, leaving locals unsure about which district they belong to. Even after four years, Bajali still lacks basic district-level offices such as the Education Department, Health Department, Transport Office, District Recruitment Office, and Information & Public Relations Department. Only the nameplates of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police have changed, but the departments themselves remain incomplete. Although positions under the District Primary Education Office were approved, they have not been filled. As a result, more than 1,400 primary school teachers working in Bajali must travel to Barpeta for administrative work. To resolve the confusion, the Assam government formed a three-member cabinet subcommittee comprising Ministers Jayanta Malla Baruah, Atul Bora, and Chandra Mohan Patowary. The committee has met with over 100 local organizations over the past two years, but no concrete solution has emerged. This lack of clarity caused problems during elections too. In the last Lok Sabha election, the Panchayat and electoral boundaries did not align with district borders, adding to the administrative chaos. Due to the political decisions surrounding Bajali’s formation, people feel the district exists only “on paper.” Offices are still split between Bajali and Barpeta, making life difficult for citizens and government employees alike.  Now I want to bring this issue to the attention of the authorities concerned, urging them to resolve it at the earliest in the greater interest of the public.

Sasanka Talukdar,

Bajali.

Hygiene horror at TMC hostel

I am writing to bring to your attention a deeply concerning issue I recently witnessed during a visit to Tezpur Medical College (TMC) to meet a friend residing in the boys’ hostel. As someone who holds the medical profession in high regard, I was utterly shocked by the appalling state of the hostel’s bathrooms and toilets, which demands immediate attention from the authorities. Upon entering the hostel’s toilet facilities, I was met with a scene of utter neglect. Most of the toilets were broken, with only one or two barely functional, and even those were in such a revolting state that they were unusable for any reasonable person. There was no assigned personnel to clean or maintain these facilities.

Doctors are often regarded as guardians of health and well-being, yet the aspiring medical professionals at Tezpur Medical College are being subjected to an environment that contradicts the very principles of hygiene and care they are trained to uphold. This neglect not only compromises their health and dignity but also undermines their ability to focus on their rigorous studies. It is unacceptable that students, who are preparing to serve society as healthcare providers, are left to navigate such uninhabitable conditions. I urge the authorities of Tezpur Medical College, as well as the relevant administrative bodies, to take immediate action to address this crisis. The hostel facilities must be thoroughly renovated, with functional toilets and regular cleaning staff appointed to ensure proper hygiene. The students deserve a safe, clean, and dignified living environment that supports their academic and personal growth.

Nilim Kashyap Barthakur

Guwahati

Digital skilling in education

Skilling youths of India needs to be geared up, as the country has the largest youth population in the world. Today, we see a large number of graduates remaining unemployed or employed in low-competency jobs, which is only reflective of the persisting gap between educational institutions and industry requirements. On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, the 15 July editorial, 'Integrating digital skilling in education,' has rightly said that the rapid growth of digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine automation has surged the country's requirement to 30 million digitally skilled professionals, and the demand is expected to increase to 29 percent from the current level of 25 percent. The current shortfall in the supply of digital skills against demand is a matter of serious concern. Educational institutions and skill training institutions must rise to the challenge and focus on hiring adequate teachers and trainers having advanced skill in imparting education and training in future skills. The AI curriculum and systemic adoption of AI-based technologies in various sectors, including higher education in the National Education Policy 2020, are the right steps in the direction to bolster India's global leadership in AI. The recent Advantage Assam 2.0 has unlocked numerous skill development investments, which will definitely enhance the skill landscape in Assam over the coming years. What is now urgently needed is integrating AI into the classrooms at the foundational level, which will not only create the ecosystem but also orient the future academia and workforce. No doubt, AI is a new reality and the challenge for today's youth. Therefore, it is essential to create awareness among students and encourage them to prioritise skill-building alongside their regular academic pursuits. Industries, educators, and policymakers need to work in collaboration to provide high-quality training programmes and opportunities to the young generation. The time has come to recognise the power of young people of the state as drivers of change. Equipping them with AI and digital skills is the need of the hour to improve employability, economic growth, and overall development of the state. Let us come together and pledge on this occasion to help the young generation in shaping a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future, empowering them through AI and digital skills.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.