Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

27 Nov

28,000 teaching positions are unfilled, and about 1,400 Assamese schools lack restrooms and drinking water

Sonakshi SarkarEducation

The Assam Assembly was informed by the education minister that close to 1,400 government-run primary and middle schools in the state’s char and rural areas continue to operate without basic drinking water and toilet facilities, exposing glaring infrastructure gaps in the education sector. Additionally, nearly 28,000 teaching positions remain vacant across these regions. Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury during Question Hour, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said 1,391 Lower Primary (LP) and Middle English (ME) schools currently lack functional drinking water or toilet infrastructure. Of these, 347 schools have no drinking water facilities at all,…

27 Nov

Gaurav Gogoi, the president of the Assam Congress, escapes unharmed following a car collision in Jorhat

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Congress president and deputy leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi had a narrow escape after his car met with an accident in Jorhat district on Thursday morning. However, the driver received injuries after the vehicle hit a bridge. The left side of the car was damaged in the mishap. The driver was immediately rushed to the hospital.

27 Nov

In North Sikkim, the Indian Army Promotes Community-Led Adventure Travel

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

. The Indian Army has supported the local community of Yumthang Valley by providing specialised high-altitude adventure equipment to strengthen community-led tourism initiatives in the region. The equipment includes camping gear, climbing essentials, safety items, cooking sets and basic high-altitude support equipment. This will enable villagers to set up structured adventure camps for the daily footfall of 20–25 tourists visiting the valley. With this support, local youth will be able to offer guided trekking, camping and basic adventure experiences in a safe and organised manner. Mr. Pema Dorjee, Pipon, Lachung Dzumsa, who is overseeing the community venture, said, “This support…

27 Nov

Assam Cabinate Approves Report On ST Status Communities

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam Cabinet has approved the report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities – Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) – of the state. Addressing mediapersons in Guwahati late Wednesday evening after chairing the Cabinet meeting, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the report of the Group of Ministers would be placed in the Assam Legislative Assembly, and thereafter, submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Notably, the three member GoM was headed by Ranoj Pegu with other two members being…

27 Nov

Assamese cinema steals the spotlight at IFFI 2025

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assamese cinema cast a luminous spell at IFFI 2025 as the teams behind two remarkable works—'Bhaimon Da’ (Feature Film) and ‘Patralekha’ (Non-Feature Short Film) opened their hearts and creative journeys to an enthralled audience during a warm, emotionally charged press conference. Steeped in the cultural soul of Assam, both films stood as heartfelt tributes to two towering artistic giants: Munin Barua, the beloved Bhaimon Da of Assamese cinema, and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the musical maestro whose voice continues to echo across generations. Their legacies pulsed through the stories, visuals, and emotions presented, making the moment not just a festival appearance,…

26 Nov

IIT-G Creates Cutting-Edge Epoxy Coating to Safeguard Steel in Marine Environments

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed a corrosion-resistant epoxy coating for protecting steel structures exposed to seawater and high-salinity environments. “The findings of the research have been published in the Advanced Engineering Materials journal, in a paper co-authored by Prof. Chandan Das, department of chemical engineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with research scholar Anil Kumar,” a statement issued by the institute on Wednesday said. Corrosion is a natural and gradual process that weakens metal surfaces and shortens the lifespan of essential structures, particularly those exposed to saltwater environments, such as offshore platforms, coastal bridges, port infrastructure and marine…

26 Nov

Night Curfew Imposed Along Bangladesh Border In Meghalaya District

Sonakshi SarkarENVIORMENT, Meghalaya

Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district administration has imposed a night curfew along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border in the district to prevent entry of unwanted elements from across the border in view of the current situation in the neighbouring country. An order issued by District Magistrate Rosetta Mary Kurbah noted that the situation across the border has increased the likelihood of movement by unwanted elements, including members of proscribed militant groups, smugglers, and others involved in illegal activities. The administration stated that several portions of the border in East Khasi Hills remain porous and prone to infiltration by illegal migrants and individuals…

26 Nov

Army Rescues Elderly Tourists In Tawang

Sonakshi SarkarENVIORMENT

Army troops rescued a group of elderly tourists who were left stranded in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district after heavy snowfall made their vehicle immobile, officials said on Tuesday. The sudden winter spell brought fresh snow, the first this season, to districts such as Tawang, West Kameng, Shi-Yomi and parts of Upper Subansiri on Monday. The authorities said that many stretches turned slippery overnight, catching the travellers off guard as temperatures dipped sharply. The stranded group of eight tourists, all above 60 years of age, was en route to Bomdila in West Kameng district, when their vehicle was stuck on a…

26 Nov

WWF-India Presents Cutting-Edge Environmental Learning Resources at the Educators’ Conclave 2025 in Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarENVIORMENT

WWF-India organized the Educators’ Conclave 2025 in Guwahati under the banner of its digital learning resource centre — One Planet Academy — offering teachers an opportunity to explore new, tech-enabled approaches that make classroom learning more effective and environmentally enriched. A total of 106 participants from 56 schools across Assam and Meghalaya joined the event. Opening the conclave, Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, State Director, WWF-India Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, said the presence of educators reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a future where humans live in harmony with nature. This year’s theme, “Raising Generation 30,” aligns with global targets such as…

25 Nov

Assam CM Reveals in Assembly Session That Zubeen’s Death Was Murder, Not Accident

Sonakshi SarkarBreaking News

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday made a sensational statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, asserting that legendary singer Zubeen Garg’s death during a yacht trip to an island in Singapore was not ‘culpable homicide’ but “murder.”Replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition, Sarma said that based on preliminary information, the Assam Police had ruled out culpable homicide and had no doubt it was a case of murder. which is why, Section 103 of BNS was added to the case within three days of his death.“The state police, based on preliminary information, was sure that this…