Blog - The Purbottar

19 Aug

Healthcare Workers Demand Timely Salaries Under NHM-PPP Model

nanika EditorArunachal Pradesh, North East

Around 250 doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers engaged under the NGO-Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in Arunachal Pradesh have demanded the immediate release of their pending salaries, which they say have not been paid since March. The workers said prolonged salary delays have caused serious financial hardship, with similar instances in the past reportedly resulting in payments being withheld for several months and released only partially. Despite the uncertainty, they continue to provide essential healthcare services in remote and difficult areas, including emergency care, maternal and child health services, immunisation, disease screening and outpatient care. The…

19 Aug

Sarma Asks for Evidence of Illegal Coal Mining in Sivasagar

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked people claiming that illegal coal mining is taking place in Sivasagar district to provide photographic evidence along with the exact geographical location, saying he would take action if the allegations are found to be true. “If somebody says there is illegal coal mining in Sivasagar, send me the photograph with the geographic location. I will take action,” Sarma said. The Chief Minister said the state government had repeatedly sought information from the Mining and Geology Department regarding allegations of illegal coal mining in Sivasagar. According to him, the department has maintained that…

19 Aug

Rising premiums and higher cover signal stronger life insurance demand in India

Business BureauBusiness

India’s life insurance market is witnessing a gradual shift towards higher protection levels, with policyholders increasingly opting for larger coverage and spending more on financial protection, according to an analysis of FY2021-FY2025 business data compiled by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) of India. The data showed that the share of policies with a sum assured of ₹2 lakh-₹5 lakh increased by 5.6 percentage points between FY2021 and FY2025, while the ₹10 lakh-₹25 lakh category gained 2 percentage points. Policies with cover above ₹50 lakh rose 68% from 4.4 million to 7.4 million during the period, generating annual premium of ₹975…

19 Aug

New Cabinet Policy: Roads To Undergo Trial Run Before Toll Collection Begins

Preeti SinghDelhi, Latest

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is set to take strict measures to address issues like road cave-ins, potholes, and artificial flooding that have been occurring immediately after the inauguration of newly built national highways and expressways. Keeping in mind the deterioration of road quality even before the scheduled time, the government has now prepared a far-reaching plan to conduct a 2 to 3-month ‘road test’ or trial run for any new highway before its formal opening. During this trial period, no toll will be collected from pedestrians or vehicles. Recently, several flaws were observed in major projects…

19 Aug

Western Himalaya heating faster than east, faces sharp snow loss by 2100: Study

Business BureauBusiness

The western Himalaya is warming faster than the central and eastern stretches of the mountain range and is projected to suffer the greatest snow loss by the end of the century, according to a new study published in the Journal of Earth System Science. The study, titled “Vulnerability of the Himalayan region under the climate change”, analysed 120 years of temperature observations from 1901 to 2020 and projections from eight global climate models under five emission scenarios. Researchers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Ashoka University found that the western…

18 Aug

IMU Registers 4.5-Fold Rise In Assam Students, Northeast Registrations Cross 700

Preeti SinghAssam

The Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai has witnessed 4.5-fold increase in registrations of students from Assam.This was stated by Dr. Rajoo Balaji, Pro Vice Chancellor of IMU, during an interaction with a visiting team of editors from Assam in Chennai,The expanding scope of maritime education, research and technology in India, along with growing opportunities for students from the Northeast, were highlighted during an interaction.IMU's admission-registration data indicates a sharp increase in interest from the region over the past four academic years.In Assam, registrations increased from 116 in 2023-24 to 234 in 2024-25, 378 in 2025-26 and 525 in 2026-27. Admissions…

18 Aug

Assam To Become First State With Separate Youth Empowerment Department: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Preeti SinghAssam

The Assam Cabinet in Tuesday approved the creation of a new department for youth empowermentThe new departments to be called ‘Youth Empowerment and Welfare Department’ will focus on employment facilitation, career guidance, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and convergence of youth initiatives.Earlier, the youth welfare used to come under the sports department. The existing Sports and Youth Welfare Department will be re-designated as the ‘Sports Department’, and it will dedicated exclusively to sports development.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam will become the first state in the country to create a separate department focused specifically on youth welfare.The move is aimed at…

18 Aug

Assam rifles, mizoram police seize heroin worth rs 8.85 cr

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Rifles, based on specific intelligence from a sister agency, conducted a joint operation with Mizoram Police in Ngopa in Saitual district of Mizoram and seized heroin valued at approximately Rs 8.85 crore recently. The joint team apprehended one individual and recovered 109 soap cases containing 1.180 kg of heroin, concealed in a modified chamber behind the vehicle’s rear number plate. One vehicle was also seized. The recovered contraband, vehicle and other items were handed over to police for further investigation and legal action under the NDPS Act.

18 Aug

103-Year-Old Woman Sets Remarkable Example of Humanity by Donating to Assam Flood Victims

Paromita EditorAssam

A 103-year-old woman from Sonitpur district has set an inspiring example of compassion and humanity by extending financial assistance to families affected by the recent floods in Assam’s Sivasagar district. Smt. Konaklata Das, a resident of Majraimari village in Chirajuli, personally visited the office of the Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner after learning about the difficulties faced by residents of the Amguri Bagan area following the recent floods. She met Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Mridul Yadav and donated Rs 2,000 each to 77 flood-affected families, using money from her lifelong savings. Despite being 103 years old, Das took the initiative to personally reach…

18 Aug

46% Of Lok Sabha MPs Have Criminal Cases, 170 Face Serious Charges: ADR Report To SC

Preeti SinghLatest

A recent report filed in the Supreme Court has revealed a worrying picture of the criminalisation of politics in the country. According to data presented in the apex court on Monday, criminal cases have been registered against 251 out of 543 members of the Lok Sabha. Similarly, various criminal cases have also been registered against 75 out of 233 members of the Rajya Sabha. Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist the Supreme Court while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, filed this affidavit. Based on data from the 'Association for Democratic Reforms' (ADR), the report states that…