Assam - The Purbottar

18 Jan

Special immunization drive began in Tinsukia

Banasree SarkarAssamTinsukia

Tinsukia's Special Immunization Drive (SID) kicked off on Friday and will run through January 25. With a focus on the designated high priority areas, the primary goal of the Special Immunization Drive is to guarantee that all children in the state receive all scheduled vaccinations in accordance with the Universal Immunization Program and PW with Td. There are 151 SID sessions scheduled around the district, with 118 sub-centers identified. There are 1230 children in total who are targeted, spanning 4 health blocks in the Tinsukia district and ranging in age from 0 to 5. As determined by the Head Count…

17 Jan

Guwahati Asian Film Festival from Feb 7

editorAssam

The maiden edition of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) 2025, showcasing the best of Asian cinema with special focus on Assam and the North-East region, will be held next month, the organisers said on Friday.From movies to workshops, the three-day festival from February 7 will attract top names in cinema from India and neighbouring countries and provide a platform for the young and aspiring filmmakers of the region, honourary festival director Monita Borgohain said. "GAFF 2025 is all set to be a vibrant celebration of Asia’s rich storytelling traditions. We are proud to present a thoughtfully curated lineup that…

17 Jan

Over Rs 400 crore approved for development of BTR projects

editorAssam

The Assam Cabinet on Thursday sanctioned the release of Rs 401.50 crore from the Special Objective Project Development (SOPD-G) funds for Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) projects. This funding will be allocated to a series of projects that are set to be implemented by the BTC. The approval is an important step in ensuring the continuous and uninterrupted development of the region, growth and infrastructure improvement across various sectors. Additionally, the Cabinet has approved Rs 22,000 crore for the implementation of the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Asoni (MMMUA), the Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asoni, and other related schemes for the financial year 2024-25.

17 Jan

Guwahati to host Industry leaders, policymakers at Direct Seking Expo

editorAssam

Guwahati is set to become the epicenter of discussions and innovations in the direct selling industry on January 21, as eminent government dignitaries, top industry leaders, policymakers, academics, and social activists converge here for the 2nd Edition of IDSA Northeast Direct Selling Conference and Expo. The event, being organized by the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA), will witness brainstorming on crucial topics such as industry growth, regulatory frameworks, consumer awareness, reforms, policy advocacy, and empowerment of women and youth through direct selling opportunities. The IDSA, in a press release said the event will feature a grand exhibition showcasing products, services,…

17 Jan

More than 220 illegal “rat hole” coal mines were discovered at Umrangso

Banasree SarkarAssamUmrangso

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that at least 220 illegal "rat hole" coal mines had been found in the vicinity of the flooded mine at Umrangso in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, where nine workers were trapped on January 6. Following a cabinet meeting in the Morigaon district of central Assam, Sarma informed reporters that the government would examine satellite data on how and when these mines arose in order to take the appropriate action. According to a report submitted by the district administration of Dima Hasao, many animals also perished after falling into these open…

17 Jan

BJP’s Assam unit welcomes Dilip Saikia as new president

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

MP Dilip Saikia, representing the Darrang–Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency, has been appointed as the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Assam unit. The announcement was made on January 16, following a series of high-level consultations among senior party leaders. Earlier in the day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hinted at the development, stating that the name of the new state BJP president would be disclosed by Thursday evening. CM Sarma also clarified that the appointee would not be contesting the upcoming Assembly elections, ensuring a dedicated focus on organizational leadership. The nomination process concluded at 7 PM,…

16 Jan

Gaurav Gogoi urges action on China’s hydropower dam project

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised alarm over China’s plan to construct the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra. In a letter addressed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Gogoi emphasized the critical national security and water security challenges posed by this development, particularly for Assam and other northeastern states. The hydropower project, approved by China on December 25, has sparked fears of strategic control over the Brahmaputra’s water flow. Gogoi warned that China could manipulate the river’s flow, intensifying seasonal floods in Assam while creating water shortages during drier months.…

16 Jan

In Demow, Magh Bihu celebrated with fanfare and joy

Banasree SarkarAssamMagh Bihu

Demow and the neighboring districts celebrated Magh Bihu with great fanfare. People flocked to the markets on Monday to purchase a variety of meats, seafood, and other necessities for the communal meal. In Demow and the surrounding territories, communal feasts were organized during the Uruka, or night. The Mejis, or bonfires, were burned early on Tuesday morning, and individuals took blessings in front of them after taking a bath. Curd (Doi), Beaten Rice (Chira), Jaggery (Gur), various Pithas, larus, and other Bhogali Bihu specialties were then consumed. On Tuesday, the "Bhogali Anikha" was held on the grounds of Majar Chuk…

16 Jan

Assam govt digitises rare Assamese manuscripts, books

editorAssam

Over 1.28 million pages of rare manuscripts, journals, and books in Assamese have been digitised. This marks a significant milestone in safeguarding and promoting Assamese literature, said Narayan Sharma, president of the Assam Jatiya Bidyalay (AJB) Educational and Socio-Economic Trust. The digitisation work was done over 36 months, he said.

15 Jan

Assam mine tragedy: 5 workers still trapped as rescue work continues

editorAssam

Dewatering continued in the coal quarry in Assam's Dima Hasao district, with the authorities failing to trace the five workers who are still trapped inside for 10 days, officials said on Wednesday. Water was pumped out of the mine using machines brought by the ONGC and Coal India, and the water level has gone down considerably.