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Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam Guv stresses on effective implementation of schemes for inclusive growth
Diphu , Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya has stressed on effective implementation of central and state government schemes to ensure inclusive development while focusing on the importance of the growth of the local economy. Assam Guv stresses on effective implementation of schemes for inclusive growth During the first day of his two-day visit to Karbi Anglong district on Thursday, he also emphasised upholding traditions and culture in tandem with development for the true growth of a region. The government interacted with Padma Shri awardees, renowned sportspersons, social activists and freedom fighters of the district and hailed their role in preserving and promoting Karbi Anglong's heritage. 'True development lies not only in infrastructural progress but also in the preservation and promotion of one's own heritage. When traditions, language and culture are upheld in synergy with development, real and meaningful progress takes place,' he said during the interaction. Lauding their roles, the governor said that they represent the strength of the region and contribute significantly to the progress of the state. Acharya held a meeting with Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, executive members and key stakeholders of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council later in the day. He urged them to work with dedication for the well-being of the people and stressed the need for collective efforts to address the emerging challenges. 'Public welfare and making Assam one of the best states in the country should remain our foremost priority,' he said. In another meeting, the governor took note of the status of various ongoing initiatives of the central and state governments in the jurisdiction of the council. He emphasised the importance of effective and successful implementation to ensure inclusive development. Stressing the importance of the local economy, the governor specifically enquired about the agriculture and fishery sectors in the district. Acharya also reviewed the physical and financial progress and status of 'Amrit Sarovar' projects, PM Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, etc. Emphasising the need for inclusive development, he called for an increase in the number of beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme. He also took note of the initiatives under the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission, and stressed that self-help groups must be empowered through adequate support and facilities. In the context of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the governor took detailed updates on the implementation of the Nikshay Mitra initiative. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam-Meghalaya border tensions rise amid fresh land dispute
Tensions flared yet again along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Wednesday, after a crowd of over 400 villagers from Lapangap and nearby areas in West Jaiñtia Hills in Meghalaya, backed by student unions and pressure groups, stormed a plantation site maintained by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) of Assam. A damaged wooden-structure in Block 1 of Assam-Meghalaya border (HT Photo) Accusing KAAC of illegally encroaching into Meghalaya territory, the protesters dismantled wooden sheds and uprooted hundreds of saplings, triggering a confrontation that escalated when Assam Police fired five rounds of tear gas. Two makeshift structures in the fields were also reportedly set on fire by Karbi locals. District SP Chemphang Syrti said, 'A crowd of around 400 entered the plantation area and uprooted the saplings. Both administrations attempted to contain and disperse the crowd. The situation is now under control.' The incident occurred in Block I, a long-contested area along the 884.9-km Assam-Meghalaya boundary. West Jaiñtia Hills deputy commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh confirmed that the plantation was carried out by KAAC 'without any prior coordination' and despite ongoing peace efforts. 'We had advised restraint as a peace meeting was scheduled at Tahpat village in the morning. But the Assam side didn't turn up, prompting villagers to take matters into their own hands,' Singh said. 'The plantation has now been halted, and police along with three border magistrates are stationed to monitor the situation.' The protest has found strong backing from civil society and students' groups. A Khasi Students' Union (KSU) leader warned, 'This is a message. We will defend our land if the state cannot. Despite tear gas, we didn't retreat.' Neilkee Mukhim, general secretary of the Jaiñtia Students' Union (JSU), accused the Karbi side of violating a 2023 agreement to maintain the status quo. 'They resumed planting despite prior understanding. Today's action was necessary.' The protest comes just weeks after the second chief minister-level round of border talks was held in Guwahati on June 2 between Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. This meeting was long delayed—originally planned following the first round of talks on May 17, 2023, where both leaders agreed to jointly visit disputed sectors including Block I and Block II. But that momentum was shattered by the Mukroh firing on November 22, 2023, in which six people were killed—one of them a forest guard—after a truck allegedly carrying illegal timber was intercepted. The killings, which took place in another part of Block I, triggered widespread outrage and unrest, putting all dialogue on hold. The border issue between Assam and Meghalaya traces back to 1972, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state. The border was demarcated under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971—a framework Meghalaya has contested ever since. Over the years, the two states have held 32 rounds of official meetings, attempting to resolve 12 areas of difference spanning over 2,700 sq km. After decades of deadlock, a breakthrough came in March 2022, when Assam and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, resolving six of the 12 disputed sectors. Under this MoU, out of 36.79 sq km of contested land, Assam retained 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya received 18.33 sq km—a near-equal division hailed as a model for cooperative federalism. However, the six unresolved areas—including Block I, Block II, Langpih, Deshdoomreah, Khanduli, and Nongwah-Mawtamur—remain flashpoints, particularly due to ethnic sensitivities, historical claims, and lack of ground-level enforcement. During the second round of talks held this month, both CMs agreed to begin erecting border pillars in the six resolved sectors by August 15, 2025. Further discussions will continue through regional committees headed by cabinet ministers of both states. Crucially, both states have also agreed to bring science to the table. The North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) has been tasked with conducting a high-resolution satellite imaging survey to map forest boundaries, natural drainage lines, and settlement patterns across the disputed zones. This neutral data will serve as a scientific basis for further demarcation, help mitigate future conflicts, and feed into broader environmental and infrastructural planning. 'Once the NESAC survey is complete within three months, we'll engage technical experts like IIT Roorkee to analyse the data and suggest actionable solutions,' CM Sangma said after the meeting. 'It's not just about border lines—this is about understanding the terrain, the people, and the ecosystem.' The talks also saw a tentative agreement to jointly commission the Kulsi multi-purpose hydroelectric and irrigation project, with both states pledging to consult local communities before implementation. Sangma described the initiative as 'a symbol of Assam-Meghalaya friendship,' with potential for boosting power generation, irrigation, and tourism in both states. But as Wednesday's unrest at Lapangap proves, ground-level sentiment often moves faster than policy promises. A fresh round of peace talks between Lapangap and Tahpat village councils is now scheduled for Thursday. Whether this results in genuine de-escalation—or simply paves the way for another confrontation—will depend on how quickly the decisions made in Guwahati translate into action on the ground. Even after 32 meetings and two chief minister-level rounds of talks, the road to peace along the Assam-Meghalaya border remains perilous. Science, diplomacy, and community participation are all now in play—but as Lapangap has reminded everyone, so is defiance.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tension on disputed Assam-Meghalaya border; mob ransacks structures, uproots saplings
Shillong, A mob on Wednesday uprooted saplings and dismantled wooden structures erected to protect the plants, leading to tension in a village on disputed Assam-Meghalaya border, officials said. Tension on disputed Assam-Meghalaya border; mob ransacks structures, uproots saplings The plantation drive in Lapangap village was conducted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council of Assam. Police personnel were deployed in the village. A hill in Lapangap, on which the incident happened, is claimed by residents of both Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district and Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Around 400 people of Lapangap and other villages, backed by members of several social organisations of Meghalaya, went to the plantation area, uprooted the saplings and burnt the wooden structure around 11 am, claiming that Assam was trying to encroach into their state by carrying out the plantation. West Jaintia Hills district Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh said adequate police forces have been deployed and the situation is now under control. "Plantation activities were carried out by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council without prior notice to the district administrations," Singh told PTI. He said the information regarding the plantation first reached the district administration a week ago and "we have restrained our people from going to the site as the peace meeting was supposed to be held today." The scheduled peace meeting at Tahpat village did not take place as nobody turned up, the official said. Adequate police forces were deployed at the site along with three border magistrates for effective coordination with the Assam government. Singh said that the police personnel will be stationed at the site to check untoward incidents. Police and civic officers from Karbi Anglong also visited the spot along with Meghalaya's border magistrates and tension was defused, he said. The DC said that a peace meeting will be held on Thursday to find an amicable solution. He said, "Meetings have been held at the DC and SP level, and now we want the peace meeting to happen at the village level so that both headmen and their councils can sit together and come to a solution so that such conflicts can be avoided in future and status quo be maintained." In previous meetings, it was decided that the status quo should be maintained till both Assam and Meghalaya governments come to a solution. According to the DC, Lapangap village is part of Meghalaya except for a hill on which the plantation took place which villagers from either side claimed as their own. A leader of the influential Khasi Students' Union said it extended full support to Lapangap's residents alleging that Karbi Anglong people encroached into the area. "So, we dismantled all structures and uprooted the saplings. Assam Police fired tear gas shells but we will continue to defend our land," he said. KSU general secretary Neilkee Mukhim alleged that the Karbi people residing near Lapangap village had made the plantation defying an agreement made between the two sides. Assam and Meghalaya have had longstanding disputes in 12 areas along their 884.9-km-long inter-state border. In March 2022, the two states signed an agreement in New Delhi, in the presence of the Union Home Minister, to resolve issues in six areas during the first phase. Under the first-phase settlement covering 36.79 sq km of disputed land, Assam received 18.46 sq km, while Meghalaya got 18.33 sq km. The remaining six areas, where the differences are more complex, are now being addressed in the second phase. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Binita Chetry? 9-year-old dance sensation who made history on ‘Britain's Got Talent'
NEW DELHI: Binita Chetry, a 9-year-old dancer from a remote village in Assam 's Karbi Anglong district, has captured hearts worldwide by finishing as the second runner-up on the globally renowned reality show Britain's Got Talent (BGT). Her incredible journey from the small village of Talbalijan near Bokajan to one of the world's biggest stages is inspiring millions. Her father, Amar Chetry, runs a small broiler chicken farm and is actively involved in local social work. "She has been learning dance since she was three years old. She participated in reality shows in Mumbai and in the South. Now she's the second runner-up in Britain's Got Talent. This is not just an achievement for our family but for the whole country," he said. "Thanks to everyone's love and support, she has reached this global stage. " Despite her rising fame, Binita remains grounded. She is currently in the fifth grade and continues to juggle her academics with dance. 'Sometimes, it's difficult, but I manage,' she said. When asked about her future, she smiled and said, 'I just want to improve my dancing and become better.' Before stepping onto the BGT stage, Binita had already made her mark in Indian dance circuits, appearing in shows like Super Dancer 4 and Dance Deewane Junior . She later went on to win Dance Icon Season 2 , a victory that paved the way for her entry into the international arena. Her intricate dance routines, featuring physically demanding elements like backflips, won repeated standing ovations from BGT judges and audiences alike. Judges Bruno Tonioli and Simon Cowell were particularly impressed, with Simon reportedly saying he had 'never seen such a performance before.' She also acknowledged the crucial support from Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), who provided Rs 5 lakh in financial aid and local MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Numal Momin. CM Sarma congratulated the 9-year-old for her historic achievement at the BGT 2025 finals. Her childhood dream, as shared during her audition, was to win the show so she could buy a "pink princess house" a dream that now feels closer to reality. Upon her return to Assam, Binita was greeted with a hero's welcome, with flowers, cheers, and admiration from well-wishers, cultural groups, and state officials. In the BGT 2025 finale held on Saturday night, Binita secured the second runner-up position. British magician Harry Moulding took the top prize, while LED dance group 'The Blackouts' finished second. With this achievement, Binita became the first Asian contestant in the show's history to reach the podium.
