Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that his government would set up a separate directorate to streamline the mid-day meal scheme. The government would directly transfer money to the School Management Committees (SMCs) for procuring utensils and adopt other measures to ensure success of the scheme in the state, Gogoi said while reviewing the performance of Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA). The chief minister also directed the education minister to take up teachers’ training programmes on a mission mode so that they could impart quality teaching to the students. He also asked the education minister to fill up the posts of teachers at the Lower Primary (LP)and Middle Elementary (ME) schools. Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma apprised the chief minister that 15,000 LP and ME teachers’ posts of the newly provincialised 8,000 schools would be filled up by March 31 next year. He said that of the 5,898 additional classrooms construction work, 92 per cent had been completed along with 75 per cent of the 6209 headmasters’ rooms and almost 100 per cent of the 12,125 separate girls’ toilets in schools across the state. Gogoi also discussed district-wise financial and physical achievements of SSA for 2012-13 which included opening of 56 new schools, free textbook and uniform distribution. (PTI)
Protests over granting of tribal status to ethnic communities
Guwahati: Protests have erupted across Assam for and against granting of tribal status to various ethnic communities, election to autonomous councils as well as against the demand for Bodoland state carved out of Assam. In Dibrugarh district today Ahom, Motok and Moran communities jointly blocked the road to the airport in Dibrugarh town from 11 am for several hours preventing over 250 passengers from reaching the aerodrome, official sources said. More than 3000 slogan shouting and banner carrying protesters from different organisations of the three ethnic communities squatted on the road and prevented movement of vehicles, the sources said. About 250 passengers were stranded while another 30 Dibrugarh-Guwahati-Delhi Jetlite and 20 Dibrugarh-Kolkata Indigo flight passengers, however, managed to enter the airport as they went there early, they added. (PTI)
Repatriation of Brus depends on FCI rice allocation: Mizoram
Aizawl: Repatriation of Brus, now lodged in six relief camps in North Tripura district, will be resumed as soon as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) finalises re-allocation of rice for the repatriated Brus as a free ration, Mizoram government officials said. Detailed arrangements for receiving any Bru family who were willing to return to Mizoram had been made by Mamit district administration, Joint Secretary of the state home department Lalbiakzama said. “We are waiting for the allocation of foodgrains by the FCI and we have sent a reminder,” Lalbiakzama said adding that the union home ministry had cleared all other requirements. A Sawibung, President of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum, however, insisted that it would not be convenient to resume the repatriation process during heavy monsoon. (PTI)
Woman hacks husband to death in Nagaland
Kohima: A man succumbed to his injuries after his wife hacked him with a ‘machete’ (dao) on in Mokokchung town of Nagaland. According to Women Police Cell in Mokokchung, the incident happened on Saturday night after a domestic quarrel between the husband and the wife that led to physical violence. In the ensuing melee, the husband got hold of the dao which was later snatched by the wife and struck him on his left ankle cutting a vein. This led to profuse bleeding and subsequently the husband died due to over bleeding, police said. Police also said the husband was not taken to the hospital after the injury and was treated at their home before he passed away around 0200 hrs yesterday morning. The victim has been identified as one Zoumeren (27) of Ungma village and the wife, who is now under police custody, identified as one Yashimenla (33) of Ungma village. Both were residing at Mongsenbai ward Mokokchung. Further investigation into the case was on. (UNI)
NSCN-IM cadre shot dead along Nagaland- Assam border
Kohima: An NSCN (I-M) man was found shot dead at Lama Basti, Karbi-Anglong district of Assam. According to official sources, the deceased was identified as Pukhato hailing from Ahoto village, Niuland sub-division under Dimapur district. The crime was suspected to be fallout of factional rivalry. The deceased was a ‘section officer’ in the NSCN-IM. The body was recovered last night and handed over to relatives, sources said. (UNI)
LS polls: Nagaland, Assam BJP meet at Diphu
Kohima: Nagland and Assam BJP members hold a joint meeting in Diphu to discuss the forth coming parliamentary election, 2014. According to a statement issued by the BJP on Monday in the last four elections, the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) had won consecutively with the support of the CPI(ML) but had not delivered anything to the public. They further stated that due to the ill motive of the CPI(ML), the ASDC has now disintegrated with 50 per cent of its members having shifted allegiance to the BJP and rest joining the CPI(ML) and the Congress. The BJP stressed that it has the responsibility to lead the people and achieve the demand for an autonomous state fulfilling the provisions of the Article 244(A) of the Constitution of India. The BJP Karbi Anglong has also expressed confidence that only the BJP can deliver their demand for small states as expressed by Rajnath Singh and Advani years back. Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills with 29 tribes and 15 tribes respectively is the only hill district left to be carved out of Assam like Meghalaya and Nagaland. Dr M Chuba president Nagaland BJP, said every step ought to be taken to ensure the victory of the BJP candidate as the situation was very conducive for the party to make a major win. He discussed at length the various matters pertaining to party organisation and election and expressed support for their endeavours. (UNI)