Page 43 - Assam

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.

Fresh clash along Assam-Meghalaya interstate border, one person injured

One person was injured in a clash at a disputed area along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border as locals from both sides used bows and arrows and catapults to attack each other, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday in the disputed place along the boundary between the Lapangap village in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district and the Tapat area under the Hamren subdivision of West Karbi Anglong district of Assam. A person from Karbi Anglong district was injured, while no one from the Meghalaya side was seriously hurt in the incident, officials said. The situation was brought under control after police teams from both states visited the spot and placated the locals. The situation remained calm but tense on Wednesday morning as a fresh clash between the villagers from both sides was reported, an official from Meghalaya said. Some huts belonging to Khasi farmers in Lapangap were also burnt down, escalating tension in the area, a senior official of West Jain

Fresh clashes erupt along Assam-Meghalaya interstate border, none injured

A fresh clash occurred at a disputed village along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate boundary as locals from both sides used bows and arrows and catapults to attack each other, officials said on Wednesday. However, no injuries were reported in the incident that took place in Lapangap village along the boundary between Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district and Assam's West Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday. The situation was brought under control after police teams from both states visited the spot and placated the locals. The situation remained calm but tense on Wednesday morning as police forces from both states prevented villagers from congregating at the spot where the clash occurred. "We are coordinating with our counterparts in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district to keep the situation under control," a senior official of the West Jaintia Hills district said.

Assam DElEd Counselling 2023 registration from sept 25 at scertpet.co.in

Candidates who have effectively cleared the test can apply for the Assam DElEd Counselling 2023 process on the official site at scertpet.co.in

Assam's unsettled legacy

In the decades since Independence, Assam's relationship with India, its neighbouring regions, and its political dynamics has been shaped by the enduring aftermath of World War II

BJP cannot win more than 7 Lok Sabha seats in Assam this time: AIUDF

However, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not register a victory on more than 7 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam this time

Himanta rolls out financial aid scheme to help Assam youth set up business

In a move to fuel growth through self-employment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a scheme to help youths set up their own ventures. At a function here, Sarma rolled out the Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan 2023. He also launched a registration portal for the scheme. Under the programme, financial aid will be given to two lakh youths for creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, he added. Speaking on the occasion on Saturday, Sarma said, "The scheme has been designed to create self-employment avenues to enable the youths to fuel development of the state. It has the potential to strengthen rural economy." He said that the unemployed degree holders in the fields of engineering, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery will be kept in the first category and will be given Rs 5 lakh. "On the other hand, unemployed postgraduates, general graduates, ITI, polytechnic passouts will be kept in the second category for government assistance of Rs 2

Assam govt approves Rs 5,197 cr project for power sector modernisation

The Assam government on Saturday approved a Rs 5,197-crore project to modernise the power distribution infrastructure across the state. The detailed project report for the implementation of the distribution infrastructure work in the power sector got a cabinet nod during the day in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Total DPR cost for modernisation and system augmentation works is estimated to be Rs 5,196.91 crore," a cabinet communique shared by Sarma on X said. The project for modernising the power distribution system of Assam will be implemented under the Union government's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The cabinet note also said, "The project is targetted to be completed by March 31, 2026 and will benefit approximately 67 lakh electrical consumers across the state." The council of ministers also decided that a power purchase agreement would be executed for 100 MW at rates offered by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), enabling Assam to pro

Assam CM rolls out financial aid scheme to help youths set up business

In a move to fuel growth through self-employment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday launched a scheme to help youths set up their own ventures. At a function here, Sarma rolled out the Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan 2023. He also launched a registration portal for the scheme. Under the programme, financial aid will be given to two lakh youths for creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said, "The scheme has been designed to create self-employment avenues to enable the youths to fuel development of the state. It has the potential to strengthen rural economy." He said that the unemployed degree holders in the fields of engineering, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery will be kept in the first category and will be given Rs 5 lakh. "On the other hand, unemployed postgraduates, general graduates, ITI, polytechnic passouts will be kept in the second category for government assistance of Rs 2 lak

Assam CM launches third phase of microfinance loan waiver scheme

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday rolled out the third phase of a scheme to waive microfinance loans availed by women of the state, benefitting over 2.23 lakh borrowers. Under this phase of the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021 (AMFIRS), borrowers whose loan accounts turned into non-performing assets would be offered an outstanding principal balance of up to Rs 25,000. "With a total relief cost of Rs 291 crore under this category, the state's womenfolk will once again be able to avail fresh loans for their continued prosperity," Sarma said at an official function here. Altogether 2,22,949 borrowers will benefit from this scheme, he said, adding that the lending institutions will waive the accrued interest and penalties for these women and give them 'no due' certificates immediately. Expressing his gratitude towards the microfinance institutions for agreeing to waive around Rs 300 crore in interest income under the category-III relief measures,

Assam inks investment pacts of Rs 3,214 cr, Kaziranga to get 5-star resort

The Assam government on Saturday inked agreements with multiple companies who will cumulatively invest Rs 3,214 crore in the state. Attending the programme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government is hoping to attract investment to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore over the next two-three years. "Today, we have signed MoUs with six companies for a total investment of Rs 3,114 crore. This will cumulatively generate more than 5,000 job opportunities over the coming years," he added. Apart from these, another agreement will be signed by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation for setting up a five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park. "Kaziranga will soon have a five-star resort to attract tourists from across the world. It will be set up by the Hyatt Group at an investment of Rs 100 crore, offering 100-120 rooms," Sarma said. "Assam is moving forward fast towards becoming an industrialised state. With today's programme, this year we have signed MoUs that will bring rec

Himanta's wife files Rs 10 cr defamation suit against Gaurav Gogoi

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for "false" allegations of irregularities in a food processing project. Senior advocate Devajit Saikia, her counsel, told PTI that the case has been filed at the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Kamrup Metropolitan on Friday and it will be moved on September 26. "My client has claimed a defamation of Rs 10 crore against Gaurav Gogoi for various tweets on X. We have made it very clear that we never made any application to receive subsidy," he added. Saikia further claimed that the process to seek subsidy has not been initiated at all and for which, a show cause notice was slapped on his client's firm on May 26 this year, followed by an email from the Ministry of Food Processing. "The approval for the project was given on November 22, 2022. In the last email, we were told that our claim would lapse if we didn't submit our proposa

Prioritise farmers, not advertisement: Assam CM slams Ashok Gehlot

Himanta Biswa Sarma claims that under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Rajasthan is competing for first position in crimes against women during BJP's Parivartan Yatra