Assam CA 23 and 24 June

1.

On June 20, the Election Commission of India (ECI) published a draft proposal for the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Assam. Though the number of assembly constituencies and Lok Sabha constituencies has remained unaltered at 126 and 14 respectively, the boundaries of all the constituencies have been demarcated differently keeping in mind the changed demography. Consequently, 30 existing assembly constituencies will cease to exist and 26 new constituencies have been created.

Similarly, four current Lok Sabha constituencies will no-longer exist in their current shape and one new will come up.  The reservation status of nine constituencies have also been altered. As a result of this draft proposal for delimitation, 39 MLAs and five Lok Sabha MPs will now lose the constituencies they used to represent earlier. While the draft is not final and the ECI has invited suggestions and objections until July 11, the draft proposal of delimitation has caused a lot of tension among sitting MLAs whose constituency names are not in the draft.

The BJP legislators who have found their constituencies missing include Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary (Panery), Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary (Dharmapur), and Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya (Dholai), Siddhartha Bhattacharya (Guwahati East), Ramendra Narayan Kalita (West Guwahati), Binod Hazarika (Chabua), Sushanta Borgohain (Thowra), Krishnendu Paul (Patharkandi), Rupsing Teron (Baithalangso), and Dosing Rohtang (Howraghat). From BJP’s ally AGP, the constituencies of Pradip Hazarika (Amguri) and Bhabendra Nath Bharali (Dergaon) no longer exist.

From Congress, Jakir Hussain Sikdar (Sarukhetri), Sherman Ali Ahmed (Baghbar), Rekibuddin Ahmed (Chaygaon), Bharat Narah (Naoboicha), and Basanta Das (Mangaldoi) have all lost their constituencies in the draft. From other parties, AIUDF’s Rafikul Islam (Jania), Aminul Islam (Dhing) and Suzam Uddin Laskar (Katlicherra), UPPL’s UG Brahma (Chapaguri) and  and  of the AIUDF, as well as prominent Bodo leaders U G Brahma and Bhupen Baro (Baksa) have been impacted by the proposed delimitation.

Among parliamentarians, those who will see the geography and name of their constituencies change include BJP’s Dilip Saikia (Mangaldoi) Horen Sing Bey (Autonomous District) and Pallab Lochan Das (Tezpur) and Congress’s Gourav Gogoi (Kaliabor).

Apart from these legislators, six MLAs and one Lok Sabha MP will also have to find out new seats to contest polls because their constituencies have been declared reserved for SC and ST. For instance, BJP MLA Suman Haripriya cannot contest from Hajo, as it’s now a SC constituency. Her party colleague Ranjit Dutta (Behali) will face the same fate. Similarly, Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed will have to re-locate from Barpeta which is now reserved for SC.

Interestingly, Ahmed’s fellow partyman Bharat Narah, who belongs to ST, cannot contest from his current seat Naoboicha as it has been reserved for Scheduled Caste. Nandita Das, again from Congress, will have to give up her current seat Boko which has been converted from a SC seat to a ST one. Goalpara West, the constituency Another Congressman Abdur Rashid Mandal,has also been reserved for ST. Among Lok Sabha MPs, BJP’s Rajdeep Roy will have to find a new seat as his constituency Silchar is now reserved for SC.

In contrast, Mangaldoi and Dergaon, which were earlier reserved for SC, have now been thrown open as general category seat, as per the proposed draft. Same way, Karimranganj Lok Sabha seat, earlier reserved for SC and represented by BJP MP Kripanath Mallah, is now in general category. 

2.

The State-Owned Priority Development (SOPD-G) scheme, has been formally introduced in the Dhubri district under the initiative of the Government of Assam to artificially breed cows using sex-sorted semen for better cattle breeds.

 sex-sorted semen has recently been offered for cattle firm owners, particularly interns of natural breeding because it’s uncertain whether a calf will be born male or female.

But in this case, artificial insemination (AI) was used to sort the sex of the semen and has confirmed that the cow would give birth to a female calf, which will produce more milk in return and will benefit the firm owners in future.

By using artificial insemination (AI) with semen obtained from a good breed of bulls, all the cows in the herd can be bred on the same day as opposed to needing to keep an eye out for symptoms of heat during the mating season 

In the meanwhile, efforts have been made to distribute 4980 sperms with defined sex among a total of 28 eligible cow breeders who were chosen for the scheme.

Nowadays many cows are bred via artificial insemination (AI) with semen collected from a good bull. This is a way to extend the benefits of a good bull or make sure heifers are bred to easy-calving bulls or utilize genetics of multiple outstanding sires without having to own them.

The process and technology—and conception rates—for AI have improved tremendously in the past 50 years, but the procedure is not new. The earliest actual documented use of artificial insemination was in 1780 when an Italian physiologist named Spallanzani produced puppies with AI in dogs.

A few more reports of successful AI breedings appeared during the 1800s, but it wasn’t until about 1900 that extensive studies with farm animals began in Russia. A scientist named Ivanov developed the technique for mares, and by 1930 he and his associates were doing artificial insemination of cattle and sheep.

AI organizations now have portable breeding barns and technicians who can come do chute-side service for the whole operation—and get those cows all bred in a few hours

3.

Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor, Tezpur University recently called on President of India, Madam Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. During the meeting, Prof. Singh presented an overview of Tezpur University’s various activities, as well as its efforts in creating a vibrant ecosystem for student, researcher, and academicians. Prof. Singh briefed President that Tezpur University in the year 2016 was awarded the prestigious Visitor’s Award (The President of India is the Visitor of Tezpur University) and three faculty members of the University has won Visitor’s Award in Research category for their outstanding work. The Vice Chancellor also invited President of India in the upcoming convocation of the university. President has accepted the invitation and expressed her willingness to visit the University. President Murmu appreciated the efforts of Tezpur University in providing a conducive environment for holistic education for all and urged all stakeholders to work hard.

4.

the government proposed to create one sub-district in each constituency in Assam

5.

Govt will soon take up the task of setting up the Kanaklata State University at Gohpur. The concerned MLA has already taken up the task of identifying the land. A law will be enacted in the Assembly by this year

6.

the Government of India has invited tenders for preparing a DPR (Detailed Project Report) to start work on a tunnel connecting Gohpur-Numaligarh Kamargaon under the Brahmaputra river. The construction work will go ahead in a short span of time

7.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, in collaboration with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), has commenced a five-day residential bootcamp focused on Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (IDE). The bootcamp, which began on June 22 and will run until June 26, 2023, aims to provide intensive experiential training in various aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship to students, teachers, and faculty members from higher education institutes and schools. An official release stated that the program is designed to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission, which aims to promote self-reliance and empower individuals to become entrepreneurs and job creators. Participants in the bootcamp will receive hands-on training in areas such as design thinking, product design, ergonomics, business modeling, and enterprise planning. The comprehensive curriculum is intended to foster the entrepreneurial journey of the attendees, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to transform their innovative ideas into successful ventures. The bootcamp offers a unique opportunity for participants to showcase their ideas and potentially receive mentoring support. Mentoring and pitching rounds have been incorporated into the program, allowing participants to present their concepts and receive valuable guidance. As a recognition of their exceptional ideas, the top five pitch ideas will be awarded appreciation certificates by AICTE and IIT Guwahati. Furthermore, all participants will be presented with participation certificates as a token of acknowledgment. The bootcamp, hosted by IIT Guwahati, features a carefully curated lineup of masterclasses and special lectures aimed at instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship in all attendees. Parameswar K. Iyer, the officiating director of IIT Guwahati, expressed his enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing the institute’s commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial mindset among participants. The IDE Bootcamp program is a joint initiative by AICTE and MIC, and it is simultaneously being organized in six different locations across the country. AICTE has shortlisted approximately 1,800 participants from various backgrounds to participate in the program. IIT Guwahati, as one of the host institutes, is accommodating around 230 innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs, according to the release. With its focus on innovation, design, and entrepreneurship, the IDE Bootcamp organized by IIT Guwahati in collaboration with AICTE and MIC is poised to make a significant impact on the entrepreneurial landscape of the country. By equipping participants with the necessary skills and knowledge and providing them with a platform to showcase their ideas, the bootcamp aims to inspire and empower the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs, furthering the vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

8.

The Sahitya Academy declared the winners for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Parashar for the year 2023 on Friday.

The results were declared for a total of 20 languages including Assamese and Bodo on Friday. Winners for Manipuri, Sanskrit and Maithili will be declared at a later date, while there was no award for the Odiya Language. Three judges were given the duty to select the best out of each of the languages. For the Assamese language, Anis Uz Zaman, Jiban Narah and Dr Saumar Jyoti Mahanta were the judges. For the Bodo language, Dr Deepak Basumatary, Dhaneshwar Narzary and Dr Rairoob Brahma selected the winner. A total of 5 creations were selected as the final recommendation for the Assamese language. These were Jokaichukat Jonakir Jilmil by Abantika Parashar, Hrasanta ta by Ankur Ranjan Phukan, Mon Mora Tora by Jintu Gitartha, Adhafuta by Koushik Kishalay and Andharotkoi Udash Botahotkoi Swadhin by Panchanan Hazarka. Out of these, the jury unanimously selected the Short Stories entitled Mon Mora Tora by Jintu Gitartha as the winner for this year. Nine entities had been selected for the final recommendation in the Bodo Language. Mwdwia Fwrmayw Nwngni Gabnaya Khamnai Bikhanimwn by Bonzar Gwra Brahma, Gwrbw by Debsing Basumatary, Ang Sinaijanw Lubwia by Lotus P. Narzary, Som, Jiu, Arw.. by Mainaosri Daimary, Bisombi Bilirnai Mwndangthi by Rajesh Boro, Jiu Ni Gathwn by Sansuma Baro, Sainasalini Faothina by Sapan Basumatary, Undahani Or by Self Made Rani Baro and Acroticni Khobam by Suresh Brahma. The Jury selected Som, Jiu, Arw.. (Poetry) by Mainaosri Daimary for Yuva Puraskar 2023 unanimously. Also, the Jury selected Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas (Historical Non-Fiction) by Anirudh Kanisetti for Yuva Puraskar 2023 in the English language.

9.

The official teaser of the film Waiphri was launched at Haflong on Wednesday. Waiphri is the first big screen commercial feature film in the Dimasa language, to be screened at multiple locations simultaneously. Made over a period of more than 9 years, this film is now finally getting released on July 21, 2023 across the screens at Haflong, Diphu, Dimapur, Silchar and Dimapur. The film produced under the banner of Kim Daula Media by Swapna Daulagupu and Kulendra Daulagupu, is directed by Dipankar Mech Diphusa and Ananta Borah. The story is by Dipankar Mech Diphusa and Zed Nunisa and screenplay by Jintu Kalita and Kulendra Daulagupu. The film has got all the elements of a popular entertainment film and it is expected that this film will be a grand success, heralding in the genesis of the sub-regional language films and paving the way for development and promotion of this kind of films.

10.

Guardian Minister and State Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta on Thursday inspected the ongoing construction of Baghara Medical College and Hospital in the Morigaon district.

The Baghara Medical College and Hospital is a much-awaited project in the region and will provide necessary healthcare facilities to the people.

11.

Mission Kunjakanon Kamrup has been launched in the Kamrup district today. To tap the resources under the Assam Floriculture Mission and make Kamrup the district with the highest floral production, a year-long target was set

The meeting discussed ways to implement the Floriculture Mission in the district and the problems faced by the district flower cultivators. A lesser-known fact is that the Hajo Circle has a major floriculture cluster. Due to challenges in market connectivity and supply chain obstacles, it has not reached its true potential. With Guwahati being the closest market and ideal weather conditions, Kamrup is poised to take the lead in floriculture production

To attract newer farmers to join the sector and make Kamrup a prime cluster, an action plan was charted. The farmers complained about seed saplings coming from Kolkata in trains and wilting, which leads to losses. It was decided to focus on the development of local nurseries through a convergence model, tapping into various schemes. Keeping in view the importance of a cold storage to preserve the flowers produced in the district for a long time, the Deputy Commissioner said that the Director of Horticulture would be requested to provide all support, especially in areas like Hajo, Gerua, Rangia, Bezera, etc. The Farmers’ Producers Organisation requested a refrigerator van for collecting the flowers from the farmers and sending them to the market on time so that the local farmers’ floral products could compete with the flowers imported from neighbouring states like West Bengal. Later in the second phase, flower tourism, candles, agarbatis, honey making, and soap making using flower waste will be taken up

12.

In sync with the NEP-2020 (National Education Policy-2020), the State Government has upgraded 24 ME (Middle English) schools to high schools under certain conditions. The conditions, according to an order issued by the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE), are: (i) the schools to be upgraded should not have any proposal for amalgamation; (ii) such schools should have at least two additional classrooms available; (iii) each of such schools must have five graduate teachers with science or arts degrees; (iv) the government will not create any new posts in the schools to be upgraded; (v) the government will not extend any financial grants to the schools set to be upgraded; and (vi) the schools must give an undertaking that they will run high school classes with the existing qualified faculty having graduate degrees. The district-wise breakup of the 24 upgraded schools is: one each in Baksa, Biswanath, Chirang, Dhubri, Hailakandi, and Udalguri; three in Kamrup; five in Kokrajhar; and ten in Goalpara. The NEP 2020 recommends that schooling be imagined in four stages in a new 5+3+3+4 design covering ages 3-18.