Page 38 - Assam

Assam Accord: SC to hear Sec 6A of Citizenship Act challenge pleas on Dec 5

The Assam NRC is meant to identify illegal immigrants in the State who migrated from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971

'SC/ST House panel satisfied with condition of both communities in Assam'

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Kirit Premjibhai Solanki on Monday expressed satisfaction on the overall social condition of these two communities in Assam. He, however, stressed on the need to improve different parameters such as education and jobs besides ending practices like manual scavenging in which mostly people from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) are engaged. Talking to reporters at the end of a three-day study tour of the panel to the state, Solanki said, "Discrimination based on caste is less in Assam and the entire northeastern region compared many other parts of the country. We have learnt that cases of atrocities on SC/ST are also few here." Solanki, who was accompanied by 14 out of total 30 members of the committee, held discussions with state government representatives including chief secretary and several PSUs such as LIC, ONGC, OIL, Northeast Frontier Railways and IIT-Guwahati. The ...

SC to hear on the validity of Citizenship Act's Sec 6A on December 5

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will commence hearing on December 5 to examine the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam. Section 6A in the Citizenship Act was inserted as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered by the Assam Accord. The provision provides that those who have come to Assam on or after January 1, 1966 but before March 25, 1971 from specified territories, including Bangladesh, as per the Citizenship Act amended in 1985, and since then are residents of Assam must register themselves under section 18 for citizenship. As a result, the provision fixes March 25, 1971 as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud deferred the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter. "I am mentioning on my behalf and on behalf of the Attorney General for India. The case coming up tomorrow is th

Puri inaugurates ONGC-funded hospital in Assam built for Rs 483 crore

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday inaugurated a multi-speciality hospital built at a cost of Rs 483 crore in Assam's Sivasagar district. The Siu-Ka-Pha Hospital has been funded by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) under its CSR commitments, and will be managed and operated by Aurangabad-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratisthan (BAVP), a statement said. Speaking at the inauguration function, Puri said the hospital is expected to improve the healthcare services for the people of upper Assam as well as other parts of the Northeast. Reiterating the BJP-led NDA government's thrust on the development of the region, he said, "Driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to the Northeast, government and public enterprises like ONGC are committed to improving lives here. "Prioritising healthcare, ONGC's Siu-Ka-Pha Hospital, with its state of the art medical infrastructure, will bring in substantive enhancement in healthcare capacity of not only upper

Assam mulls providing subsidised tea to ration card holders from 2024

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters on Saturday that his government was mulling providing tea to ration card holders at Rs 100-150 per kg from 2024 onwards

Congress and AIUDF have relationship of votes with Muslims: Himanta

The Congress and AIUDF have a "relationship of votes" with the Muslim community in Assam and over the years votes have been sought from them by creating an "atmosphere of fear", Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Saturday. Both the parties have a relationship with the Muslims of migrant origin till they get the votes but they have not taken any steps for their development or in the areas where they live, Sarma said at a press conference here. They have not constructed any roads, bridges, schools, colleges for them, he said. 'As a first step, we have taken measures to improve the living conditions of the indigenous Assamese Muslims and a survey will be soon conducted on them', he said. For the remaining Muslims (migrants) also the state government has taken steps to stop child marriage and madrasa education along with setting up new schools, colleges and health institutions, bridges to improve communication and electrification, the CM said. 'We are working for this sec

Bhutan King begins 3-day visit to Assam, offers prayer at Kamakhya Temple

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk on Friday began his maiden three-day tour to Assam with a visit to the famed Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati. Earlier in the day, the 43-year-old king of the neighbouring Himalayan country arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath International Airport here and was received by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his cabinet colleagues and state government officials. Sarma welcomed the king with the traditional Assamese 'Gamosa' (hand towel). The royal visitor greeted the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues with folded hands. From the airport, the king went to the Kamakhya Temple where he was received by priests, Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, senior officials of the state and the Kamrup Metro district administration. The king, draped with a traditional Buddhist yellow robe, prayed at the 'garbhagriha' (sanctum sanctorum) and did 'parikrama' (circumambulation) of the temple, besides lighting earthen lamps in ..

Assam Rifles recovers drugs worth Rs 1.17 cr in Champhai, one arrested

"Assam Rifles, alongwith Mizoram Police, recovered 168 grams of Heroin No 4 worth Rs 1.17 crore in general area Tlangsam, Champhai, Mizoram on 21 Oct 2023," the Assam Rifles said in a post on X

Rajnath Singh embarks on two-day visit to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh today

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh today.During his two-day visit, he will interact with the security personnel deployed in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.Taking to 'X', (formerly Twitter), Singh wrote, "Today, 23rd October, I shall be reaching Tezpur on a 2 day visit to Assam & Arunachal Pradesh. During my visit, I will interact with Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region and also visit forward areas"."Looking forward to celebrating Dussehra with the soldiers in Tawang", he added.Earlier this year, the union minister visited the Tawang sector to review security preparedness in the sector.The Tawang sector is a disputed area given the Chinese Army has multiple times tried to intrude into the sector.In December last year, People's Liberation Army troops had transgressed the LAC in the Tawang Sector, the violation was met by the Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off had led to .

NIA makes first arrest in connection with Manipur car bomb blast case

The National Investigation Agency on Monday arrested a person in Assam in connection with a car bomb blast that took in Manipur in June, an official said. An improvised explosive device-laden vehicle parked on a bridge went off on June 21 in the Kwakta area of Manipur's Bishnupur district, resulting in injuries to three people. The bridge, along with a few houses nearby, was also damaged in the blast. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said Md Noor Hussain was arrested on an intelligence-based joint operation with the Assam Police from Silchar, in Cachar district, in connection with the blast. The case was initially registered by the Manipur Police on June 21 at the PGCI police station in Moirang sub-division of Bishnupur and re-registered by the NIA two days later in Imphal, the official said. Investigation revealed the involvement of Hussain in the bomb blast, the official said, adding that further probe in the case is in progress.

Closely monitoring situation: Assam CM on North East Express derailment

At least four passengers died and another 50 were injured after 21 coaches of the North East Express train derailed near Raghunathpur station in Buxar district, an official said earlier

IAF chopper makes emergency landing twice in Assam's Dhubri district

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on Wednesday made an emergency landing in Assam's Dhubri district and then again in Barpeta after sometime, officials said. According to a defence official, the chopper carrying a few personnel had gone to Dhubri for "some work". "As per our preliminary report, it made a precautionary landing in Dhubri," he said, declining to share further details. An IAF official from Eastern Air Command headquarters in Shillong also declined to comment, stating that she did not have information on the development. According to state government officials, the chopper had around a dozen occupants and some of them disembarked when it made an emergency landing at a field near Chapar in Dhubri. "A little later, it left Dhubri," he added. However, the same helicopter again made an emergency landing at Sidhuni village near Barpeta town in Barpeta district around 4pm, a local official said. "After some time, another chopper came with engineers. After dropping them

India's first bamboo based biorefinery to start operations in March

India, the world's third biggest consumer and importer of oil, is aiming to reduce its crude oil consumption by switching to sustainable alternatives such as bio fuels

Assam to build 1,000-km high-speed economic corridor costing Rs 3,000 cr

The state cabinet also approved the construction of a Judicial Guest House in Kaziranga

Assam cabinet approves Rs 3,000 cr for 1,000 km economic corridor project

The Assam cabinet on Monday approved Rs 3,000 crore for an 1,000-km-long economic corridor project in the state, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said. The cabinet gave its in-principle approval for the project under the Asom Mala Scheme, he told reporters. The cabinet also approved projects worth Rs 950 crore to improve rural infrastructure. The fund will be obtained from NABARD as a loan. The loan will be used to upgrade 90 rural roads and four rural bridges under the Public Works Department, he said. It was also decided that the cabinet meetings in November and December will be held in Tinsukia and North Lakhimpur districts, respectively, while in January next year, it will be held in Nagaon. The deputy commissioners have been advised to limit the expenditure for cabinet meetings to Rs 5 lakh, and also not to undertake any new repair works of circuit houses and inspection bungalows for the purpose, the minister said. The cabinet also approved the revised draft notification

Assam govt issues Rs 47 cr grant to surrendered cadres of Adivasi militants

Chief Minister Dr Sarma exuded confidence the former rebels would achieve self-reliance by making the best use of the financial grants being provided to them

Assam govt to conduct socio-economic assessment of Muslim communities

The Assam government on Tuesday said that it will conduct a socio-economic survey of the state's five indigenous Muslim communities so that measures can be taken for their upliftment. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with senior officials at the state secretariat regarding it. "In a meeting held at Janata Bhawan, HCM Dr @himantabiswa directed the officials concerned to carry out a socio-economic assessment of Assam's Indigenous Muslim communities (Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed & Jolha)," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) posted on X. The findings of the assessment will guide the state government to take suitable measures, aimed at comprehensive socio-political and educational upliftment of the indigenous minorities, it said. The development comes a day after the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar released findings of its much-awaited caste survey, months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which revealed that OBCs and EBCs constitute 63 per cent of the state's total .

Assam govt increases minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18: Sarma

The Assam government has decided to hike the daily minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. During a cabinet meeting chaired by Sarma, the decision was taken to increase the wages in both Brahmaputra and Barak valleys with effect from October 1. "The cabinet decided to increase the minimum daily wages of tea garden workers. In Brahmaputra valley, the daily wage has been increased to Rs 250 from Rs 232 with effect from October 1. In Barak valley, the workers will get Rs 228 instead of Rs 210 from now," he said. Briefing the press after the meeting on Monday, Sarma said the government has given instructions to the garden managements to give a 20-per cent bonus for the ensuing Durga Puja. "There will be a 3-per cent reservation in government jobs for tea garden workers and adivasi people with immediate effect. This will be for only the non-creamy layer," he said. The chief minister also said a decision was taken to create Bajali district b

Assam govt hikes minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18: CM Sarma

The Assam government on Monday decided to hike the daily minimum wage of tea garden workers by Rs 18, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. In a cabinet meeting, chaired by Sarma, the decision was taken to hike the wages in both Brahmaputra and Barak valleys with effect from October 1. "The cabinet decided to increase the minimum daily wages of tea garden workers. In Brahmaputra valley, the daily wage has been increased to Rs 250 from Rs 232 with effect from October 1. In Barak valley, the workers will get Rs 228 instead of Rs 210 from now. So, Rs 18 will be hiked in both places," he said. Briefing the press after the meeting, Sarma said the government has given instructions to the garden managements to give a 20 per cent bonus for the ensuing Durga Puja. "There will be a 3 per cent reservation in government jobs for tea garden workers and adivasi people with immediate effect. This will be for only non-creamy layer," he added. The chief minister also said that a decision was ta

AFSPA extended in 4 districts of Assam for six more months, says police

The Assam Police on Sunday said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA has been extended in four districts of the state for six more months. At the Assam Police Day 2023 celebrations here, DGP Gyanendra Pratap Singh said the 'disturbed area' tag, which allows enforcement of the AFSPA, has, however, been withdrawn from four other districts. "From today, only four districts in Assam will have AFSPA. These are Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo," he said. The AFSPA has been withdrawn from Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao with effect from October 1, Singh said. The Assam government had last extended the 'disturbed area' notification under the AFSPA for another six months with effect from April 1 in these eight districts. The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, besides giving immunity from arrest and prosecution to the forces if they shoot someone dead.