Assam CA 10 and 11 July

1.

The education department of Assam has issued important guidelines for colleges and universities in the state, bringing about changes in the working hours of these educational institutions. The notification, which was released on July 10, aims to streamline the daily operations and enhance efficiency within the education system.

According to the notification, the working hours of provincialized, government, and PDUAM (Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidyalaya) colleges in Assam will now commence at 9:00 am, an hour earlier than the previous schedule of 10:00 am. This adjustment aims to establish a standard working period from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a designated tiffin/lunch hour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Alongside the change in working hours, the notification also outlines several other guidelines to be followed by the educational institutions. These include ensuring regular attendance of faculty members through technical intervention, allowing flexibility for faculty members to visit libraries and participate in assigned activities within and outside the campus, and emphasizing the importance of teaching and defined activities during stipulated contact hours.

The notification also highlights the significance of examinations, both internal and external, emphasizing the need for a well-defined model for conducting internal assessments and timely evaluation of answer scripts. Accountability measures for defaulters are stressed upon to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the evaluation process.

Furthermore, the guidelines address the role of fellowship holders for research, allocating teaching hours for these scholars to facilitate the implementation of UG-PG integrated courses in the affiliating university campus. The importance of internal assessment and timely consultation with students is emphasized, with a requirement to check and return answer scripts within 7 days of examination.

To ensure effective mentoring of students, monthly appraisal meetings are recommended, with reports on these meetings to be uploaded to the Samarth Gov portal as part of the Academic Module. Proper documentation of activities is also emphasized, as it plays a vital role in college rankings, be it NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) or NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).

In addition, the notice provides information on the workloads assigned to the Head of the Department/IQAC coordinator, associate professors, and assistant professors. Details on workload allocation for the upcoming odd semester, starting from August, along with class routines and administrative responsibilities, should be uploaded for each teacher.

2.

133 individuals who feared for their lives due to the violence surrounding the panchayat election in West Bengal have sought refuge in the Dhubri District of Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the news, stating that the state government has provided them with shelter, food, and medical assistance in a relief camp.

The State Election Commission (SEC) responded to the widespread reports of vote-tampering and violence by declaring the polling “void” in 19 districts, necessitating re-polling at 697 booths across those areas. The commission held a meeting on July 9 to assess the situation and decided to take action. The results of the election are scheduled to be announced on July 11.

The panchayat elections witnessed sporadic violence in several parts of north and south Bengal, including Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Malda, Howrah, South 24 Parganas, and East Burdwan. At least 19 people lost their lives during the three-tier election process. One TMC worker also died due to injuries sustained in a bomb explosion at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district.

Meanwhile, the counting of votes is currently underway in the violence-hit panchayat and rural body elections in West Bengal. This follows a day of repolling across 696 polling booths in 19 districts. As per the latest updates, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is leading in 461 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ahead in 92 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) trails with 108 seats.

3.

the world’s tallest statue of Bir Lachit Barphukan is expected to be ready by January 2024.

It is to be mentioned here that the statue of Bir Lachit Barphukan is being built at Hollongapar in Jorhat district and will also have a museum on Ahom history.

It is to be mentioned here that 50 bigha land has been taken from the public for the construction of the iconic project and so far 12 per cent work of the project has been completed.

Earlier in 2022, on the occasion of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan, the Assam government decided to build a 125-foot bronze statue of Lachit Barphukan at his memorial in Hollongapar, Jorhat.

The statue will be built at a cost of Rs 120 crore which is said to be Assam’s glorious tribute to the legendary General whose heroics had saved the state from falling into Mughal hands.

The Assam government has also released a documentary on Lachit Barphukhan.

Himanta Biswa Sarma in November 2022 appealed to the people of the state to light up earthen lamps at their homes on the occasion of Lachit Diwas on November 24.

4.

The sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption apprehended three state government officials along with a retired Food and Civil Supply (FCS) superintendent in an alleged rice scam.

The arrest comes in connection with Vigilance PS case no.03/223 u/s 120B/420/406/409 IPC R/W sec 13(1)(a)/13(2) PC act,1988 (NFSA RICE SCAM), the following senior public servants and retired government officials have been arrested today, they will be produced before Special Judge tomorrow and brought in police custody.

5.

Assam government have decided to upgrade seven state colleges to university status.

With this, the state will have 10 universities.

JB College in Jorhat, North Lakhimpur College in Lakhimpur, Nowgong College in Nagaon, Sibsagar College in Sivasager and Gurucharan College, Silchar, Bongaigaon College, Bongaigaon will be given the University Status.

However, as the Assam government is mulling introducing new bills to upgrade colleges in the state into universities, the hope of university status at Handique Girls’ College seems to be a distant dream.

On June 16, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma amidst confusion related to proposed universities to make provisions for the accommodation of the concept of ‘Constituent College’, clarified that in the August assembly session, the Government of Assam will introduce bills to establish new universities in Sibsagar College, Kokrajhar Government College, Bongaigaon College, JB College-Jorhat, North Lakhimpur College, Nagaon College, and Gurucharan College.

However, the upgradation of Handique College will take time, as the college currently does not have adequate land. 

6.

Hundreds of valuable saplings, trees have been felled in the name of building a 4-lane highway in Krishnai forest area of Goalpara.

There has been a strong reaction from nature loving organizations as well as the public over the cutting of trees.
Environmentalists have raised objection on the government as well as the forest department in Goalpara for cutting down of trees which serve as food and habitation for the animals residing the area. Few others have even demanded the forest department to stop the tree-felling activities as it  is disturbing the natural habitat of the animals and causing trouble for the residents who stay near the forest.

7.

There have been reports of rise in the sale of sophisticated powder to manufacture artificial milk in Assam’s Dhubri district, calling for immediate action against businesses involved in the adulteration.

After a sting operation, it was discovered that few businessmen in Dhubri were selling a sophisticated powder used to manufacture artificial milk. As a result, the Food Safety Department’s attempt to assess milk quality, which is actually a farce, became the subject of public discussion in Dhubri.