Page 35 - Assam

FSSAI emphasises adoption of bio-pesticides in tea production

Food regulator FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao on Friday stressed on adoption of bio-pesticides to ensure safety and quality of tea production. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Rao addressed a gathering of tea growers and tea planters during an interactive session held on Friday in Kellyden, Assam. The event saw active participation from key stakeholders, including officials from FSSAI, the Tea Board, Tea Research Institute, tea planters, tea processors, industry associations and Food and Drug Department of the state, the regulator said in a statement. The focal point of the discussion was enhancing traceability and testing measures for raw materials, emphasising the need for screening every batch for pesticide residues and adherence to Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) of pesticides usage as prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations of 2011 (FSSR). "Rao emphasised the importance of adopting bio-pesticides and encouraged collaboration with the Tea .

Ram mandir: These states have declared a holiday on January 22. Check list

Several states have declared a public holiday or half day on January 22 in honour of the 'Pran Prathishtha' ceremony for the Ram mandir in Ayodhya

Major reshuffle in Assam bureaucracy, Ravi Kota to be next chief secretary

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the Assam government, Ravi Kota is set to be the new Chief Secretary of the state.Dr. Ravi Kota, a 1993-batch IAS officer, is posted as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Home & Political (including Passport, Prisons etc).In a notification issued by the Personnel (A) department of the Assam government said "Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS is appointed as Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam with effect from the date of superannuation of Paban Borthakur, IAS Chief Secretary to the Assam government on 31/12/2024.""Till then Dr. Kota will serve as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises with additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary of Finance department, OSD in the office of Chief Secretary", the government notification stated further.Dr Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, Principal Secretary of Personnel and Power (E) department & Chairman, APDCL (Additional ...

Fewer western disturbances causing foggy and cold winter, says IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) added that strong jet streams were also causing the cold conditions

Assam govt, CM most corrupt in India: Rahul during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Kickstarting the Assam leg of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed the state perhaps has the "most corrupt government" and the "most corrupt CM" in the country. Addressing a public gathering at Haloating in Sivasagar district, where the march entered Assam from Nagaland, Gandhi slammed the ruling BJP and its ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for "spreading hatred and looting public money". "Perhaps, the most corrupt government in India is in Assam. You know what is happening here. We will raise the issues of Assam during the Yatra," he said. In the afternoon, Gandhi addressed a street meeting at Deberapar in Nakachari of Jorhat district and alleged that a lot of injustices are being done against tribals, tea workers and other indigenous communities of Assam by the BJP-led government. "Corruption is rampant in Assam. We all know that perhaps the most corrupt CM in India is the Assam chief minister," he added. Talking about Manipur, fr

Assam rolls out ration card distribution for 4.2 million new beneficiaries

Ration card distribution to over 42 lakh new beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has started in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launching it in his constituency Jalukbari. Sarma, attending the launch programme at Boripara area on Tuesday, termed it a milestone event in the current government's regime. A total of 42,85,745 new beneficiaries will be covered under the NFSA in the state, with ceremonial distribution of ration cards to be held across the state, an official release said. "This is another milestone in the current government's quest for achieving food security of all its residents," Sarma said. He said every member of ration card-holder families are entitled to 5 kgs of rice every month free of cost. He said this facility is available every month during the "anna sewa saptah" and that for this month, this shall be available till January 31. Mentioning of social sector schemes such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Sarma said those belonging t

President Murmu on 3-day visit of Meghalaya, Assam from Monday

President Droupadi Murmu will visit Meghalaya and Assam from January 15 to 17, an official statement issued on Sunday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. The president will inaugurate the Meghalaya Games at the P A Sangma Stadium in Tura on Monday, it said. This is her first visit to Meghalaya after assuming the office of the president. On January 16, she will address the members of self-help groups at the Baljek Airport, Tura, and virtually lay the foundation stone for the new Integrated Administration Complex, the statement said. On the same day, President Murmu will address a gathering at Mawphlang and virtually inaugurate upgraded Rongjeng Mangsang Adokgre Road and Mairang Ranigodown Azra Road as well as lay the foundation stones for Shillong Peak Ropeway and tourist accommodations in the villages of Kongthong, Mawlyngot and Kudengrim. "In the evening, the president will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour by the government of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhavan, Shillong,

Abhishek Banerjee slams Cong after its rout in Assam hill council polls

In the 30-member North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, 28 members are elected and two are nominated

BJP wins 25 seats in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Assam

The BJP has retained power in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) in Assam's Dima Hasao district after the saffron party won 25 seats in the 30-member council election

SC issues notice to Gauhati HC in connection with Dhemaji Bomb Blast case

A bench of justices J K Maheshwari and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to respondents on the petition against Gauhati High Court

Assam CM unveils scheme to assist 4 mn women to become micro-entrepreneurs

Asserting that all welfare programmes of Assam will be linked to population control measures, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced a scheme to develop 40 lakh self-help-group (SHG) members as rural micro-entrepreneurs and help them become 'lakhpati baidos (elder sister)'. The scheme, 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan', will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore and offered to those SHG members who are willing to undertake a personal business plan along with their group activity, the chief minister said at a press conference here. Sarma also said Assam is following a policy to control the state's population growth. "All our welfare schemes will be linked to population control measures for the benefit of our mothers and sisters", he said. Speaking on the entrepreneurship scheme, he said each eligible woman will be provided with Rs 35,000 over three years in their endeavour to become 'lakhpati baidos'. Over the next two years, each beneficiary

Assam will be third state to introduce Uniform Civil Code: CM Himanta

Assam will be the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to introduce a Bill seeking a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and it will exempt the tribal communities from the ambit of the law, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Thursday. A UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption and succession are to be covered by a common code. 'We are waiting for the Uttarakhand Bill on UCC and after it is introduced, Assam will follow it with certain additional clauses,' the chief minister said at a press conference here. The Assam model will have certain innovative points as the state is fighting against child marriage and polygamy, he said. The Bill will, however, exempt the tribal communities from its ambit, Sarma said. 'We will go through the Uttarakhand Bill and see if public consultations will be possible within the next two to three months,' he said. If, however, certain ...

Congress didn't deserve Ram mandir invitation: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Congress could have apologised to the Hindu community by accepting the Ram temple invitation

Indo Petroleum Marketing to set up 100 fuel outlets; to start from Assam

Startup fuel retail firm Indo Petroleum Marketing (IPM) on Thursday said it will set up 100 fuel stations across the country within the next five years while starting its business from Assam. The Delhi-based company has already generated a net worth of Rs 250 crore to roll out its network to sell different types of fuel in the country. "IPM will set up retail outlets or petrol pumps across the country to undertake fuel sales to the public. In the first phase, we will set up 100 outlets within five years," IPM Founder Gyan Prakash Sharma told PTI here. He said that the firm is the first Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry-authorized startup private Oil Marketing Company (OMC) to commence operations on the ground. "To begin our journey, we will start from Assam. We plan to set up five retail outlets in remote areas within the next two years. The first outlet will come up in Jorhat district", Sharma said. The company has already discussed its plans with the Assam government, which has

More than 2.9 mn people benefited in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra: Assam CM

The Chief Minister, during the meeting, also took stock of the progress of distribution of ration cards to the beneficiaries

Mizoram CM to meet Assam counterpart this month to discuss border issues

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma is likely to meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma this month to discuss border issues between the two states, an official said here on Monday. A discussion between them is expected during the North Eastern Council (NEC) plenary session to be held in Meghalaya's capital Shillong on January 19, he said. "The two leaders will discuss the border issues to resolve the long-standing dispute between the two states," the official said. The proposed NEC plenary session will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Mizoram shares a 164.6 km-long border with Assam. The dispute had taken an ugly turn in July 2021 when police forces of the two states exchanged fire along the inter-state boundary, leading to the death of six policemen and a civilian from Assam. More than 60 people were also injured in the violent clash that took place in the disputed area near Mizoram's Vairengte village. The two states have held several rounds of talks since the

Assam declares Jan 22 as dry day to mark Ayodhya's Ram temple consecration

The Assam government has declared January 22 as a "dry day" as the consecration of Ram temple will take place in Ayodhya on that day, a minister said. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma here on Sunday, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said, "To commemorate the inauguration of Ram temple, the Assam government has decided to declare January 22 as a dry day." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scores of chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and more than 6,000 people are scheduled to attend the ceremony in Ayodhya. The cabinet also decided to increase the financial and administrative powers of three development councils for Mising, Rabha Hasong and Tiwa communities. "We will send a proposal to the Centre to secure more funds for these councils," Baruah said. The government also approved a financial package under an existing scheme for women registered under self-help groups (SHGs). "This will be a support to entrepreneur women for

Assam's 'Super 30' to get trained by Army for recruitment as officers

Over 30 students from across Assam, selected through a rigorous process, will start preparing from Monday to join the armed forces as officers under an initiative led by the Indian Army, officials said. This will be the second such program to be rolled out in the state, with another started late last year, they said. The 'Super 30' program to motivate youths from the state to enroll as officers in the armed forces is supported by the state government and undertaken in collaboration with NGO National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said. While the first program was started in Dibrugarh in November last year, the second one will begin in Tamulpur on Monday. "There is a sizeable presence of youths from Assam in the lower ranks but officer-level personnel are very few. This program has been conceptualised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army to motivate and enable talented students to join the armed forces as .

Rhinos return to Assam's Laokhowa-Burachapori sanctuaries after 40 years

Rhinos have returned to Laokhowa and Burachapori wildlife sanctuaries of Assam, 40 years after the population of pachyderms in the area was wiped out due to poaching, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. These protected areas had also witnessed human encroachment over the years, which was cleared by the authorities last year, a forest official said. "Happy to share that after 40 years our iconic Rhinos have returned to Laokhowa and Burachapori. They have returned within 1 year of our successful anti-encroachment operation in the region," Sarma wrote on X. A total of 51.7 sq km of forest cover has been retrieved through eviction drives in 2023, he said on Friday. Kaziranga National Park (KNP) Director Sonali Ghosh said two rhinos have been spotted in the Laokhowa-Burachapori wildlife sanctuaries, which are part of 'Greater Kaziranga', after almost a gap of 40 years. She said the Laokhowa-Burachapori forest in Nagaon district had a population of 45-50 rhinos till 1983. "They we

Vehicles to stay off roads in Assam as 48-hour transport strike begins

Commercial vehicles and other modes of public transport stayed off the roads in most parts of Assam on Friday, owing to a 48-hour strike called by a joint forum of transporters' unions to protest against the new penal law on hit-and-run cases. Office-goers had a difficult time reaching their workplaces as buses, taxis and app cabs didn't ply, abiding by the strike call. "The government only wants to blame drivers for any unfortunate incident even if they may not have committed the crime. Instead of improving road conditions, they are penalising the poor drivers," said Ramen Das, the convenor of Assam Motor Worker Associations' Joint Platform. "The new law on hit-and-run cases is anti-drivers and is against owners of vehicles. We call for a strike of all vehicles from 5 am on Friday to 5 am on Sunday to press for our demand for withdrawal of the legislation," Das said. Talks with officials of the state government on Thursday night failed to make any headway, he added. Under the ...