Latest news with #GUWAHATI
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Assamese web series spotlights NRC ‘scam'
GUWAHATI Sixteen years after a petition in the Supreme Court led to the exercise to update Assam's list of citizens, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is back in the form of entertainment. The trailer of Scam 2019, an Assamese web series based on alleged financial irregularities in the Supreme Court-monitored updating process that cost the government more than ₹1,600 crore, was released on Friday (June 6, 2025). Aabhijeet Sharma, the producer and story writer of the web series, did the honours along with others involved with it. As the head of Assam Public Works, an NGO, he was the key person behind the 2009 petition in the Supreme Court seeking a mechanism to weed out '41 lakh illegal immigrants' from the State. The NRC process began in 2013, with retired bureaucrat Prateek Hajela as its State Coordinator. The complete draft of the NRC, published in August 2019, excluded 19.06 lakh people out of 3.3 crore applicants for lack of documents to prove their citizenship. Mr Sharma insisted Scam 2019 is a fictional account of a corrupt officer, who becomes involved in a massive scam when entrusted with the responsibility to preserve the identity and culture of Assam's indigenous communities. 'This scam not only leads to financial loss, but also triggers a multi-faceted crisis affecting the State's physical, emotional, and cultural fabric,' he said. Hitesh Dev Sarma, who succeeded Mr Hajela as the State NRC Coordinator, said the exercise was fraught with corruption, involving kickbacks and money laundering. He also accused his predecessor of fraudulently including the names of suspected foreigners in the updated NRC. The trailer, however, indicates it is closer to reality than fiction. One of the main characters, played by popular actor Jatin Bora, is based on Mr Sharma and his activism. The web series will stream on Red Cinemas 18+, an OTT platform with multilingual subtitles targeting regional and international audiences. Apart from Mr Bora, the cast includes Bibhuti Bhushan Hazarika, Maytrayee Goswami, Manik Roy, Yankee Parasar, Bhabesh Das, Arsana Pujari, and R.K., who is also the director of the web series. Bhaskar Deka has penned the screenplay and dialogues, while Bitul Das has handled the cinematography, Jhulan Krishna Mahanta the editing, and Rideep Das the music.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
In Assam's Goalpara, children give lessons on coexistence with elephants
GUWAHATI Kabita Sutradhar, a Class 4 student of government-run Dorapara Lower Primary School in western Assam's Goalpara district, has a simple solution to reducing human-elephant conflicts (HECs). She says one must first know what the elephant is called in the language or dialect of each community sharing the animal's domain, and then try to understand what these communities think about the elephant and how they read natural signs to anticipate its moves. 'The elephant is called hathi, gaja, and oirabat in Assamese and Bengali, miyong in Bodo, mongma in Garo, midar in Hajong, huti in Rabha, jongli in Mishing, and hadi in the Tiwa language,' she said at an event to mark World Environment Day on June 5. The event was organised by the Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML), an initiative of Tata Trusts, working with 159 primary schools in the Balijana Education Block of the Goalpara district. Some of these schools are on the routes elephants take to migrate or move between rivers and jungles. Many children of these schools are used to HECs in their villages, too. Witnesses to conflicts Kuldeep Das, the CML's coordinator for the district, said Kabita and other students displayed wisdom beyond their age and underscored, without probably realising it, traditional methods of handling a critical situation with a modern outlook. 'Some of these children have been witnesses to conflicts near the schools in our project area, when the elephants come down from the hills yonder during winter when paddy ripens,' he said. Dipanwita Kalita, the mathematics coordinator for the district, said a key component of the project has been to provide primary school libraries with quality books and learning materials to develop foundational literacy and numeracy and reduce dropout. Some of these 'child-friendly' books are on environment and elephants, which the children read aloud during the event. 'Our project involving the local communities goes beyond classroom activities. It focuses on coexistence with elephants and other animals just as diverse communities coexist in the area,' Mr. Das said. Conflict mitigation The focus was also on the elephants in north-central Assam's Udalguri district, where HEC-related crop damage and property loss are serious concerns for local communities. Members of Aaranyak, an Assam-based biodiversity conservation group, distributed high-intensity torchlights to 10 residents of Nunaikhuti village, one of the HEC flashpoints in Assam. 'These torches are intended to improve night-time visibility and help deter elephants, providing a simple yet effective tool for community safety in a HEC situation,' a spokesperson of the group said. The villagers were also taught practical mitigation strategies and the use of HaatiApp, a mobile phone application designed to monitor the movement of wild elephants and respond to conflicts with elephants. According to a 2024 survey by the Assam Forest Department, the State has an estimated 5,828 elephants. A year-old report by Aaranyak said 812 people and more than 300 elephants died because of HEC in about a decade.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gaurav Gogoi slams PM Modi's remarks on ‘Chinese' features
GUWAHATI Gaurav Gogoi, one of three Congress Lok Sabha members from Assam, has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remarks concerning the physical features of Chinese people, asserting that such comments are deeply traumatic for individuals from the northeastern States, who face similar stereotyping across India. Addressing media persons in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 28, 2025), Mr. Gogoi, who was recently appointed president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, said the Prime Minister should direct his attention to pressing issues such as bilateral trade and the border situation with China, instead of making observations on physical appearance. 'Recently, while referring to China, the Prime Minister made light of the physical features of the Chinese, especially with respect to the shape of their eyes. When young men and women come from the northeast to different parts of India, they are often teased for the same physical features,' Mr. Gogoi said. Also read: Gaurav Gogoi denies links with Pakistan; Himanta says he will provide proof by September 'Such language only perpetuates the harassment and is used to taunt and tease the people of the northeast,' he added, cautioning that remarks of this nature reinforce harmful stereotypes. The Congress MP said that young people from the northeast routinely share their experiences of discrimination when they travel to metropolitan cities for education or employment. 'I must ask him to be also sensitive, as these (certain physical features) have caused a lot of trauma for young people of the northeast, who often complain to me when they come to Delhi, Bombay, or Pune for their studies,' he said. Mr. Gogoi reiterated that national leaders have a responsibility to exercise restraint and empathy in their public discourse, particularly when referring to communities that have historically faced marginalisation.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sikkim can become a global tourism hub, says PM Modi
GUWAHATI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 29, 2025) said he envisions a 'golden' Sikkim emerging as a global hub for tourism and a powerhouse in sports. The remarks were made as the State marked 50 years since its accession to the Indian Union in 1975. Addressing the Golden Jubilee celebrations virtually from Bagdogra in neighbouring West Bengal—after inclement weather prevented his arrival at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok—the Prime Minister praised the people of Sikkim for their democratic decision to integrate with India. 'Sikkim chose a democratic future and became not just geographically but emotionally a part of India's soul,' Mr. Modi said, referring to the 1975 referendum in which 97% of voters supported the move. Operation Sindoor not yet over, PM Modi says in Bengal's Alipurduar | LIVE Highlighting the State's trajectory over the past five decades, Mr. Modi described Sikkim as a 'model of development with nature', citing its high per-capita income, 100% organic farming practices, and commitment to environmental sustainability. 'The State has become a big garden of biodiversity and a symbol of conservation of culture and heritage that enriches India's soul,' he said, crediting the people of Sikkim for these achievements. The Prime Minister said that investment commitments from major industrialists in the northeast would generate employment opportunities, including in Sikkim. He also noted that improved connectivity had transformed the region in the past decade. 'The distance from Delhi was once a barrier in the path of development, but now new doors of development are opening for the region,' he said. Mr. Modi added that where road construction is not feasible due to terrain, the Centre would facilitate passenger ropeways to improve accessibility. Among the infrastructure projects inaugurated or launched during the event was the Pelling Ropeway. 'Today's programme is a glimpse of Sikkim's journey to the future, which is becoming a bright chapter in the saga of new India,' the Prime Minister said, noting that the new initiatives focused on tourism, healthcare, culture, and sports. He also announced that Soreng district would be developed as India's first organic fishery cluster. 'The time has come for Sikkim to be more than a hill station,' Mr. Modi said. 'Sikkim has no competition in becoming a global tourism hub because it is a complete package of tourism offering nature, spiritualism, and peace under the shadow of the Buddhist monasteries.' Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, addressing the gathering, invited the Prime Minister to visit the State in person during the year-long golden jubilee celebrations. 'We hope you can make it in October or November when the weather is good,' he said. On the occasion, Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Mr. Tamang released commemorative items including a ₹50 postage stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arms license policy not for people near inter-State borders: Assam CM
GUWAHATI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday (May 29, 2025), clarified that his government's arms licence policy will not be applicable along the State's borders with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Assam has had bloody border disputes with these four northeastern States, claiming more than 200 lives over more than five decades. The border disputes with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have been resolved partially. On Wednesday, the Assam Cabinet approved a policy to issue arms licences to 'original inhabitants and indigenous communities' living in vulnerable and border regions. 'There were some queries regarding whether the arms license policy would also apply to inter-State border areas such as those shared with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland,' he posted on X. 'Let us clarify: Assam has always maintained that inter-State border issues are matters that can and should be resolved through mutual understanding and trust. We do not view these regions as vulnerable in the context of national security threats. Accordingly, the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-State border areas of Assam,' the Chief Minister said. 'The Government of Assam firmly believes that inter-State boundary issues are not security vulnerabilities, but matters best resolved through understanding and peaceful negotiation,' he said. According to the Cabinet decision, the arms licence policy will be applicable in the Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, and South Salmara-Mankachar districts. Bengali-speaking Muslims are a majority in these districts, two of which — Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar — border Bangladesh. 'The Cabinet decision is important and sensitive. The indigenous people in these districts live in an atmosphere of insecurity due to the recent developments in Bangladesh. They face the threat of attacks from the Bangladesh side and even in their own villages,' Mr. Sarma told journalists. Insisting that the objective of the Cabinet decision was not to militarise the indigenous populations, he said the people in the vulnerable areas have been demanding arms licences for a long time. 'The government will be lenient in providing arms licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and belong to indigenous communities. The government will not help such people living in vulnerable areas buy arms,' he said. 'Casting doubts on BSF' Reacting to the Cabinet decision, Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev from Barak Valley said the arms licence policy 'takes the credibility of the Assam government to zero.' She said the decision conveys a message to the people in border areas that the Border Security Force and the Assam police cannot protect them from 'illegal immigrants' and issues from across the (Bangladesh) border. 'The government can issue an arms license, but cannot tell someone what he can or cannot use a gun for. Once a person gets a gun, he can use it against anybody,' she said. 'Lastly, till today, nobody knows the proper definition of indigenous people. It is the Chief Minister of Assam who wakes up in the morning and decides who's indigenous and who's not. The NRC [National Register of Citizens] is in a hanging position. This issue has been raked up only because elections are round the corner,' Ms. Dev. She said the arms license policy sets a bad precedent and conveys to the country that the people of Assam are not safe under the 'double-engine sarkar'.
