77 killed in witch hunting incidents since 2010 in Assam
Guwahati:At least 77 people were killed and 60 others injured in witch-hunting incidents in Assam since 2010, the Assembly was informed on Monday.In a written reply to a query by BJP MLA Prasanta Phukan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain said a total of 77 persons, including 35 women, were murdered due to the superstition between 2010 and February 2015. Of the injured 60 people, 46 were women, Hussain said on behalf of the Home Minister. Talking about the measures the government was taking to prevent such incidents, Hussain said the Additional Director General of CID has prepared a draft anti-witch hunting bill as per the direction of the Gauhati High Court. The necessary modification to the draft was done in a meeting presided over by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Home Department, he added. “With approval from the Chief Minister, the draft has been now sent for comments to different relevant departments like Social Welfare and Law among others,” Hussain said. The government is determined to enact this bill and stop the social evil, he added.(PTI)
AIDS claims 1,038 lives since 1990
Aizawl:Of the 4,57,678 blood samples tested in Mizoram, 9,894 people were found to be infected with HIV while 1,038 people have died due to AIDS since 1990 till date, state Health Minister Lal Thanzara informed the Assembly on Monday. Replying to a question from Dr K Beichhua of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Lal Thanzara said that 7,188 HIV positives were now being treated in the state.Mizoram is the second highest in HIV incidence in the country and the percentage of HIV positives compared to the population is 0.67, he said.In a written reply to another query from Lalruatkima of the MNF, the health minister said that National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) released Rs 13.65 crore and Rs 17.60 crore during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 respectively.He admitted that the state government could not release the fund meant for combat of HIV/AIDS to the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) for two times during the current fiscal after the NACO changed the funding channel to the MSACS. (PTI)
Water crisis hits people in Manipur
Imphal:People in Manipur are facing a major crises with almost all the public water supply systems becoming non-operational due to absence of water in the reservoirs. The main reservoir at Kangchup is supplying water only once a week for about an hour, while water supply from all sub-centres have stopped. However, according to sources, tankers are supplying water to the VIPs on a daily basis. As for the public, it has to be purchased at high price from private suppliers who ferry water in tankers. According to Public Health Engineering department officials, there is inadequate water at Singda, the main reservoir and if there is no rainfall this month the state will be facing a near famine-like crisis. People are buying water at the rate of Rs one per litre now from private suppliers who take water from rivers and purify it. Water levels of Imphal, Nambul, Iril rivers are at an all time low. (UNI)
Over Rs 31,000 cr debt in Assam
Guwahati:Assam has a debt burden of over Rs 31,000 crore as per revised estimates for 2014-15, with the per capita debt being close to Rs 10,000. Informing this in reply to a written question in the state assembly on Monday, PWD Minister Ajanta Neog said the debt burden as per actual estimates of 2013-14 was Rs 27455.64 crore, which has gone up to Rs 31,494.11 crore as per revised estimates for 2014-15. Ms Neog was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who holds the Finance portfolio. The loans have been availed of from various sources, namely, market loans, financial institutions, National Small Savings Fund, central government and General Provident Fund. Capital component as well as interest on the loans are being paid by the government as per the loan agreements, the minister said. A total of Rs 1794.76 crore was repaid as capital component in 2013-14, against payment of Rs 2198.45 crore as interest component during the same period. The minister further informed that the per capita has been estimated at Rs 49,363 and per capita debt at Rs 9821 for 2014-15. (UNI)
IYF World Camp begins at Dimapur
Kohima:The International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Nagaland World Camp is underway in Walford Area of Dimapur town, with 300 participants from abroad.According to a release today, Rev. Hyeonyong Choi, Director of the IYF Nagaland opened the 2015 IYF World Camp in Nagaland at the IYF Center in Walford Area, Dimapur yesterday.At the ceremony, a dance from Righteous Stars, a college student dance team from South Korea, each performance such as the Taekwondo Dance and a special song by Aloke Yepthomi, the winner of the 2014 ‘You Know You Got It’ and a soulful special number from Sangwang and Tinlung, were all met with thunderous applaud from the crowd.The heat of the performance reached its climax through the performance of the Rio Montana, Korea’s famous gospel band.Rev. Bong Choon Lee, Guest Speaker for the camp, congratulated the opening of the Nagaland World Camp, and exhorted the participants through the story of a young American soldier named John, who lost an arm, an eye and a leg during the Vietnam War.The main programmes for the next three days include Mind Education, Lectures, Special Guest Lectures, Mini-Olympics, Academies and Cultural Performances from continents like Asia, America and Africa. (UNI)
Six houses gutted
Aizawl:Six houses inhabited by six families were gutted in Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border Saikhawthlir village in Mamit district last night. Village council president of the village H T Lalthlengliana said there was no casualty in the fire. A temporary shelter would be constructed today for the victims. The cause of fire was yet to be determined, he said. (PTI)
