NDA govt wants to make the country open defecation free
Dimapur(Nagaland): BJP general secretary, Kailash Vijayavargiya on Tuesday said the NDA government at the Centre wants to make the country ‘open defecation free’. A budgetary provision of Rs 1,46,000 crore has been made to carry out this mission and to construct 11 crore toilets in urban and rural areas across the country, he said. Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim has been declared ‘open defecation free’ states while some other states in the country are also in the line of achieving the target, the BJP general secretary said. Vijayavargiya, who arrived Dimapur on Monday participated in Swachh Bharat campaign today in Marwari Patti area along with party workers and citizens. He disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged senior BJP leaders to go to different places of the country and initiate Swachch Bharat programmes. (PTI)
Manipur sanctions Rs 201 crore for Ukhrul district
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday announced a developmental package of Rs 201 crore for Ukhrul district. Biren Singh and some ministers made a maiden visit to the border district of Ukhul as part of his campaign “Go to the Hills”. He and some ministers had visited another hill district, Kangpokpi, some days back. Tangkhul Nagalong, an apex body of the Tangkhul tribe, had coordinated with other civil bodies to accord a warm reception to the ministerial team with hoardings and welcome arches along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. The Naga People’s Front, a political party of the Nagas, is a ruling partner with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Manipur. Speaking at a public reception, the Chief Minister said: “Our government is for a balanced development of the hills and the valley.” (IANS)
KVIC opens training-cum-production centre in Assam
New Delhi:The Khadi and Village Industries Commission has opened a training-cum-production centre near Kaziranga forest area — a move it believes will curb illegal poaching by engaging the rural families in productive work. The centre, a joint initiative between the KVIC and the Forest Department of Assam, has been opened at Silimkhowa village under Karbi-Anglong district and will provide job opportunities to nearly 50 rural families residing in the area. Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said KVIC has derived a novel way to cut down illegal poaching and maintain flora and fauna in and around the Kaziranga National Park, by setting up the centre. Saxena inaugurated the centre on Monday and presented 25 charkhas, five looms and other accessories to the village artisans at the village. He pointed out that for the first time in Assam, Cotton Khadi work has started with 10 spindle charkhas at the centre, which will enhance the output and thereby provide more wages to the workers. (PTI)
Five Bangladeshi youths arrested in Tripura
Agartala: Five Bangladeshi youths have been arrested from Jogendranagar railway station here for travelling without valid documents, Police said today. Acting on a tip-off, the Mobile Task Force (MTF) of Tripura police on Monday arrested the five Bangladeshis from the railway station. The arrested youths hail from Chittagong in Bangladesh. They entered through Sonamura, a sub-divisional town, bordering Comilla district of Bangladesh, SP (Police Control), Dilip Roy said. During preliminary interrogation, the arrested youths disclosed that they were on their way to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to study in a Madrasa there. Further investigation is on, the SP added. (PTI)
Fulfil CSR: Mizoram Finance minister to companies
Aizawl: Mizoram Finance Minister Lalsawta on Tuesday implored different companies working in the state including banks and financial institutions to fulfil their ‘Corporate Social Responsibilities’ (CSR) and work for the welfare of the local populace. Lalsawta, addressing a ‘seminar on Corporate Social Responsibilities’ organised by the Mizo Students Union (MSU) expressed the hope that all the central public undertakings would fulfil their responsibilities to the people, an official statement said. “The public companies, while ensuring the welfare of their employees and their families should also ensure the welfare of the local people affected by their projects,” he said. (PTI)
NFR spotted 5.71 lakh ticketless travellers in NE stations
Agartala: Northeast Frontier Railway has spotted as many as 5.71 lakh ticketless passengers in different railway stations of Northeastern states in last financial year, which was 4.65 lakh in 2015-16. NFR officials stated that the figure indicated an increase of 22.79 per cent over last year of ticketless travel despite several measures to stop illegal travel in the trains by adding ticket counters and other amenities. The ticketless travel has increased the earning of Rs 36.12 crore last financial year as against Rs 30.05 crore in 2015-16 with an increase of 20.19 per cent, NFR officials said, adding that they have been conducting surprise ticket checking drive in Mail Express and passenger Trains. To discourage ticketless travelling, Northeast Frontier Railway has put systems in place whereby surprise ticket checking drive is conducted by Flying Ticket Checking Squads of Divisions as well as HQ. Fortress checks are also conducted in stations. (UNI)
Cong MP demands clarification from PM over Naga accord
New Delhi: Congress MP Thockchom Meinya on Tueday sought a clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Naga peace accord, saying there was a contradiction between the statements given by the Prime Minister and Naga extremists. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Meinya said the Prime Minister during the campaign for Assembly elections in Manipur, had promised that the state will not be affected by the accord between the Centre and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M), but the fact was that the group was talking of greater Nagaland. The MP from Manipur said nothing that would affect the territory of the state should be committed by the Centre. (UNI)
