Assam CA 8 June analysis

1.

The ADAR India Pvt. Ltd. celebrated installation of over 50,000 Smart Meters for Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) in Assam AMI (Advanced Meter Infrastructure) Project. According to the company, this significant milestone has marked a major step forward in enhancing energy management and efficiency in the Assam region.

The Assam AMI Project aims to revolutionize the distribution and consumption of electricity by deploying cutting-edge smart metering technology across the State. ADAR India Pvt. Ltd. was selected as the trusted partner to implement this ambitious project and has successfully completed the installation of over 50,000 smart meters in for one of their leading client Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL).

The installation of these smart meters will empower consumers with real-time information, enabling them to monitor and optimize their energy usage. The smart meters will provide accurate data on energy consumption, promote efficient billing practices, and pave the way for demand response programs, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency and reduced carbon footprint

the smart meters installed by ADAR India Pvt. Ltd. feature state-of-the-art technology, including advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which allows for two-way communication between the meters and the utility company. This enables seamless data collection, remote monitoring, and the ability to implement energy-saving measures effectively. Furthermore, the project has generated employment opportunities for local communities, as ADAR India Pvt. Ltd. actively engaged and trained local technicians to ensure the smooth installation and operation of the smart meters.

2.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 7 urged the people of the State to pledge to plant one crore trees on October 2, as Assam’s contribution to the global greening effort.

On 2nd October on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the state government is mulling to plant 1 crore saplings starting at 9 AM till 11 AM

the person who takes up the responsibility of planting the sapling will be provided with a one-time financial grant of Rs 100 as a token of gratitude.

After three years the state government will again give Rs 200 to that concerned person for taking care of the tree for these many years

Whoever plants these 1 crore saplings will have to register themselves on the web portal along with the geo-location

the family or an individual should plant such saplings which will benefit one after three years in order to build a tree economy.

Speaking on the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the regulation has been amended now and shall allow people to plant commercial trees which could be used for felling without the government’s conscience.

3.

 In view of the security of the Eastern theatre, Narengi Military Station located in Assam’s capital city Guwahati has now emerged as one of the important logistics hubs for the Indian army to enhance the logistics chain.

According to the Indian army, the military station covering an area of around 3300 acres of land is one of the logistics hubs of the Indian army and it caters for operational preparedness in the entire eastern theatre.

From needle to barrel of a tank, mechanical transport stores, and engineering stores, the military station has provided all kinds of support to the field army.

4.

Oilmax Energy Pvt Ltd will spend ₹600 crore ($75 million) over the next two-and-a-half years in developing the three oil and gas fields it owns in Assam

The company owns three blocks in Assam — Amguri, Duarmara, and Tiphuk. Currently, Amguri produces 2,50,000 cubic meters of gas and 500 barrels a day of condensates (a crude oil-like liquid that comes out of the ground along with the gas).

Once the Indradhansh project — the Northeastern gas pipeline that is currently under construction—is completed, production from Amguri would be raised four-fold, to a million cubic meters of gas a day, Garg said. Four new producing wells would be drilled for this purpose

In Duarmara, Oilmax is waiting for approval from the State’s forest department. The plan is to drill six wells to produce another million cubic meters of gas a day. The company’s consultants, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, have established that Duarmara has reserves of 4.1 billion cubic meters of gas

So, in Amguri and Duarmara, Oilmax will drill ten wells, each costing about $7 million. In Tiphuk, a field that Oilmax won in the DSF-3 round of bidding (in which the government auctions ‘discovered small fields’), the company plans to drill two side wells, which will cost $5 million. 

The entire project cost of $75 million is to be funded from internal accruals, Garg said, adding that Oilmax is a debt-free company. 

Oilmax, set up by Garg in 2008, is the parent company of the listed entity, Asian Energy Services Ltd (NSE: ASIANENE), and has a 62.5 per cent stake in it — the rest is with the public.

In order to ensure that its Gujarat oilfield subsidiary gets a steady income, Oilmax sold its 50 per cent participating interest in Indrora to Asian Energy. Garg said he had no plans to list Oilmax. 

5.

Birth Anniversary of Sonaram Chutia

Sonaram Chutia (also known as Vaishnav Pandit) was a Vaishnav scholar, freedom fighter and educationist from Assam. Born in Bamkukurachowa village in the Jorhat district of Assam during the British Raj, Chutia was educated in Jorhat and completed his B.Sc from Cotton College. Throughout his education, Chutia witnessed insulting comments from upper-caste boys and instances of disrespectful mistreatment from religious establishments towards certain communities. It is said that these experiences prompted Chutia to take up his cause against casteism and racism.

Sutiya began his career as a science teacher at the Sivasagar Government Higher Secondary School in 1939 but left his job and joined the Jatiya Mahasabha. He was jailed during the Quit India Movement, and he met Pitambar Deva Goswami, Satradhikar of the Garmurh Satra, in prison in 1943. In 1946, Sutiya joined the Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha, devoting himself to working for the organisation for the rest of his life.

Sutiya  was honoured as a freedom fighter by the Union government in 1972 and the government of Assam in 1973. He received the Srimanta Sankardeva-Madhabdeva Award in 1994. In 2000, the Assam government bestowed the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award on him. In 2005, he was awarded as Jorhat Ekalabya and Dalit Daradi by North Eastern Research Organization. A Gandhian in life, Sutiya was a student of Class X, when he saw Gandhiji for the first time and met him personally later in Maharashtra.

He began writing 1939 after he joined the Dharma Mahasabha. His books were highly influenced by Sankari Culture and Mahapusia Dharma. Most of them were related to Vishnuism in Assam. Until his death, he wrote various books and articles in many different Assamese magazines. In 1954, he published his first book “Naam Dharma Prakash”.

6.

Nagaland government orders prohibiting the sale and eating of dog meat in the state issued in 2020 were recently quashed by the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court. On June 2, Justice Marli Vankung ruled that the state government could not have prohibited the consumption of dog meat without a valid legal basis. The Court order mentioned: “The prohibition of sale and consumption of dog meat by the Executive Branch of the Government without there being any law passed by the legislation in relation to trade and consumption of dog meat is liable thus to be set aside even though the impugned notification dated July 4, 2020 is said to have been passed in accordance with a Cabinet decision.” The Court reasoned that there is no indication of any authority to issue prohibition orders in the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, which served as the foundation for the government’s issuance of the order. It was also observed that dog meat was not covered by the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, though this was not ‘surprising’. “The meat of dogs is consumed only in some parts of the Northeastern states, and the very idea of consuming dog meat is alien in other parts of the country. The thought of adding canines or dogs as an animal for human consumption under regulation 2.5.1(a) would be inconceivable, since consumption of dog meat would be considered unthinkable. “The consumption of dog meat appears to be an accepted norm and food amongst the Nagas even in modern times, wherein the petitioners are able to earn their livelihood by transporting dogs and selling dog meat,” the court said. The court emphasised that, under long-standing precedent, the FSS Act’s Commissioner of Food Safety, not the State’s Chief Secretary, was the only person authorised to issue orders outlawing the sale of any meat within the state. It was acknowledged that the management of the dogs intended for slaughter in the current situation was not entirely hygienic or in accordance with the Slaughter House Rules. The Court ruled that the same did not, however, support a blanket ban. It stated that corrective actions can be taken to enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Indian Penal Code’s provisions in order to resolve the issue of dogs suffering before they are put to death. In November 2020, the High Court stayed the Nagaland government order that had banned the import, trade, and sale of dog meat in the state

7.

In a significant development for the medical education sector in Assam, all institutes offering medical courses in the state will now be required to take affiliation from the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS). This decision, made by the state government, aims to streamline the medical education system and ensure uniformity in standards across all institutions. The SSUHS, established in 2009, is a premier institution dedicated to the advancement of medical education and research in Assam. It offers affiliation to various medical and paramedical colleges in the state, providing oversight and ensuring adherence to quality standards. By making affiliation with SSUHS mandatory for all medical institutes, the government seeks to strengthen the regulatory framework and enhance the overall healthcare education ecosystem. This move comes as a response to the growing concerns about the variability in the quality of medical education in the state. While Assam is home to several reputed medical institutions, there have been instances where certain colleges failed to meet the necessary standards, compromising the quality of education provided to aspiring healthcare professionals. The affiliation process will help address this issue by subjecting all institutes to a standardized evaluation process. Under the new directive, any institute offering medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, nursing, and other allied health sciences, will be required to seek affiliation from SSUHS. This affiliation will entail a rigorous evaluation of the institute’s infrastructure, faculty qualifications, curriculum, teaching methodologies, and assessment practices. Institutes will need to demonstrate their compliance with the prescribed guidelines and meet the required standards to secure affiliation. The decision has been met with a positive response from both the medical community and students. The medical fraternity has long advocated for a stricter regulatory framework to ensure the delivery of quality medical education in the state. With the affiliation from SSUHS, students can be assured that the institute they choose is recognized and adheres to the requisite standards, ensuring a robust learning environment and a strong foundation for their future careers. The mandatory affiliation process will be implemented in a phased manner, allowing institutes to comply with the necessary requirements within a specified timeline. This approach will enable institutions to make the required improvements and ensure a smooth transition while minimizing disruptions to ongoing courses. In conclusion, the decision to make affiliation from SSUHS mandatory for all institutes offering medical courses in Assam is a crucial step towards enhancing the quality of medical education in the state. By setting uniform standards and subjecting all institutions to a rigorous evaluation process, the government aims to create a robust healthcare education system that produces competent and skilled healthcare professionals. This move will not only benefit aspiring students but also contribute to the overall improvement of healthcare services in Assam.

8.

 The people of Sootea in Biswanath district and of Jamuguri in Sonitpur district on Monday have witnessed a unique and exceptional celebration of World Environment Day and a good number of people including women and students despite the scorching heat took part in it with tremendous enthusiasm. In a novel praiseworthy initiative to restore the degrading environment and for the beautification of the newly-constructed for lane highway from Chowkighat on the eastern bank of river Bharali in Jamuguri in Sonitpur district to Sootea in Biswanath district, Sootea legislator Padma Hazarika has taken up for plantation on this 21 km long stretch of the highway with the saplings of cassia fistula (Golden Shower tree or Sonaru), Largerstroemia Speciosa (Queen’s Flower or Ejar), Delonix Regia or Krishnachura) and others.

Synchronizing with the worldwide celebration of ‘World Environment Day’ legislator Hazarika organized a brief inaugural function on NH 15 in front of the Heritage Sootea Police Station

9.

Students who failed the High School Leaving Certificate Examinations (HSLC) 2023 exam received a notification from the SEBA. According to the notice, students who did not pass the Class 10th exam this year must reapply for admission to the class in order to enrol in regular classes.

Candidates may enroll in the same institution from which they took the HSLC Examination in 2023. Students may enrol in any other school located in the same centre from which they took the HSLC Examination in 2023 if the parent school is unable to give re-admission.

Candidates are free to switch their elective subjects if they so choose, but they must do so before the midterm exam. After the midterm exam, subject switching is prohibited. The schools where the applicants for re-admission will make arrangements for the practical evaluation of the applicants for the time of study, and they will be required to transmit the practical evaluation results and internal assessment results to SEBA in accordance.” English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Advanced Mathematics, and Geography are the six topics with IA marks that will be given weight when the District Examination Committee processes and declares the results of the Annual Examination of Class IX and the Revisionary Examination of Class X. On May 23, the Secondary Education Board of Assam published the Class 10th Result 2023 on the website. The SEBA board has announced the results together with statistics for the 10th grade and other information. The overall pass rate for the 10th grade Assam board test was 56.49% last year. Every year, students in class 10 take the SEBA board’s high school graduation exam.

10.

Assamese tribal organisations are opposed to the state government’s plan to grant the Tai Ahom community Schedule Tribe (ST) status with a special reservation without harming the rights and interests of the current ST communities. One of the most important electoral pledges made by the BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was to grant Tai Ahom, along with five other ethnic groups, the ST category. These communities included Koch Rajbongshi, Matak, Chutia, Moran, and Adivasi.