- Assam police detained a person in Nagaon, who was reportedly a BJP leader, for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).
Government has taken some measures to check the smuggling and circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in the country, which include:
i) Security at the international borders has been strengthened by using new surveillance technology, deploying additional manpower for round the clock surveillance, establishing observation posts along the international border, erection of border fencing and intensive patrolling.
ii) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between India and Bangladesh to prevent and counter smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes.
iii) Training programmes are conducted for the Police officials of Nepal and Bangladesh to sensitize them about smuggling/ counterfeiting of Indian currency.
2.
The climate emergency has evolved into a common crisis for communities worldwide and has become even more profound in recent times. In view of the same, and considering the increasing climate vulnerability of Assam and Northeast India, Global Foundation (GFAEHW) and Care Luit have jointly presented a multi-stakeholder dialogue aimed at inspiring collaborative climate action under the concept of Mission LiFE (LiFEStyle for Environment)
The impact is manifesting across geographies, hitting societies and economies globally. The fight against climate change has reached its penultimate level; however, to counter the catastrophic impact of a changing climate, it is becoming essential to join our forces by engaging with a range of stakeholders, including youth. Taking advantage of India’s ambitious Net Zero target of 2070 and the goodwill it has been able to wield as the current president of the G20, there is momentum building across parties to commit to greenhouse gas emission reduction combined with measures to protect our natural resources. This deliberation helped mobilise community participation to talk about the complexities of our environmental problems and solutions in a holistic way. This session witnessed a large participation of people from all walks of life, including young people, who are likely to bear the brunt of climate change more. A group of highly regarded experts and practitioners participated and discussed a number of cross-cutting issues of contemporary relevance.
3. Assam’s rich heritage of traditional sports since the days of the Ahom rulers may have waned over the centuries due to varied reasons but Chiranjib Sarma has taken the onus to revive these games and sporting activities.
The first step in this direction is the setting up of the Olympia Traditional Sports Museum which showcases the various traditional sporting activities practised by the indigenous people of the state’’
People are now generally apathetic to the once popular traditional sports of the state, primarily due to the advent of modern sports and more due to the emergence of online gaming apps. The traditional games are now played only during certain festivals
Information relating to over 600 sports and games traditionally played in the state by men, women and children was collected by him.
The Museum, a first of its kind in the North East by an individual, showcases through illustrations, photographs and books the way the various games are played along with the equipment used in the games. Assam’s indigenous wrestling, boat race, buffalo, cock and bird fights, bamboo stilt walking, butterfly catching, ‘tekeli bhonga khel’, bow and arrows along are some of the games that are still practised mostly in rural areas during certain festivals, including the state’s spring festival ‘Rongali Bihu’’
The Museum is the first step towards preserving Assam’s sports history but Sarma and his team is also planning to revive these sporting activities and motivate children and youth to play these games.
4.
Altogether 17,000 of the 21,800 SIM cards found to be issued in excess of the permissible limit of nine mobile connections for one subscriber were deactivated in Bihar and Jharkhand in April and May so far
Such a move was taken by the Department of Telecommunication through an analysis using artificial intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition technology
According to the existing guidelines of the DoT, an individual subscriber can acquire a maximum of nine mobile connections in total from telecom service providers in most parts of the country.
This upper limit is fixed at six for subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and other northeastern states.
The DoT has recently launched a digital portal ‘Sanchar Saathi’ to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen-centric initiatives of the central government.
The portal facilitates citizens to find out the total number of mobile connections issued against a subscriber and also to trace or block SIMs for their lost phones.
It also facilitates them to report on mobile connections, which are either not required or not taken by a subscriber, the official said.
Notably, DoT has already deactivated more than 2.30 lakh mobile numbers in Bihar and Jharkhand in April and May thus far as the majority of these SIM cards were allegedly procured through forged documents.
Telecom service providers have also blacklisted 2,900 points of sales (PoS), which were “found to be involved in unethical and illegal practices while issuing SIM cards”
The telecom service providers are initiating legal proceedings against these fraudulent PoS as well as subscribers
5.
The West Bengal government has already received 16 proposals from private players to develop tourism and related businesses in tea gardens in Darjeeling and the hills of Terai and Dooars. Taken together, it’s a combined investment of Rs 1,400 crore, with the potential of creating more than 4,500 jobs
Neighbouring Assam is also exploring potential tourism opportunities, with the Himanta Biswa Sarma government, in its 2022-23 budget, earmarking Rs 50 crore to build guest houses and facilities in some tea gardens.
Tea tourism will gain more popularity in the coming days, especially for foreign tourists, now that travel bans have been lifted. More social media outreach will further advertise these properties across the country as well as abroad
What is tea tourism?
Tea tourism is a contemporary concept researched and talked about since the beginning of the 21st century. Tea tourism is a wonderful recreational experience for tourists. The tea tourist means, ‘A tourist experiencing history, culture, and traditions and consumption of tea’. The tea gardens, the process of tea plucking, the cultural festivals of the tea tribes, the stay at the luxurious tea bungalows provide a unique four experiences. Tea tourism is already popular in countries like China, Srilanka, and Kenya. It is gradually now catching up in India. Tea tourism is all about visiting tea gardens and staying out there if possible. The tourists get a chance to explore how the trade works and how the tea gardens are run. The tea gardens are generally spread across vast areas and the lush green plantations offer great views. They can be combined with visits to other nearby attractions. Tourists can have a luxury stay in the middle of a tea garden or someone can simply make a day trip from the nearest town. Most of the tea estates, especially in Assam came up during the British rule. Tea planters built their mansions in the middle of lush green tea gardens. So, many of these Tea Estates have turned their Bungalows into heritage resorts for tourists. So, tourists, visitors want to experience that colonial charm and luxury, a stay at a tea garden in Assam can provide that opportunity. Most of the famous properties of this kind can be found in the Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sonitpur etc. The first name that crops up in mind for tea tourism in Assam, the largest tea-producing region in India. The Assam tea tourism festival held at Jorhat city every year is a big hit with tourists. Staying in a rustic Colonial-era planters Bungalow has its charm. Home to more than 800 tea estates in the state, where amidst luxury and serenity one can drift back in time to days of that elegant colonial aristocracy. The Tea Auction Centre, Guwahati, one of the busiest tea trading facilities in the world, is a place not to be missed. Other includes the Monabari Tea Estate, the largest tea estate in Assam and also in Asia located in Biswanath district of Assam. It covers nearly 1400 hectares of land, where 1158 hectares were maintained for tea plantations. It is also ranked as the world’s largest Tea Estate. The tea is most grown growing Brahmaputra Valley malty Assamese Tea is brightly coloured. The city of Jorhat in the central part of the valley is often referred to as the ‘Tea Capital of the World’. The tea tourists are taken to a tea factory, where they get to experience how the fresh green leaves are brought into the tea factory. There are different processes of withering to the rolling, drying and shifting stages, grading and packaging and followed by a tea tasting session. After that, tourists could sip some of the finest tea, which is grown in that garden area. Visitors take photographs and learn about the processes. Similarly, factory gives them additional insight into the trade work. In any Tea Estate, tourists are going for tea testing sessions. This is something like wine tasting, where an expert will introduce visitors to different types of tea and tell them a few things about them. Then visitors will taste a bit of them and learn to appreciate them. Tea Tourism in Assam is most favoured in the months from June to September, which is the Monsoon season and rainy months in Assam. The months of July and August are however the peak Monsoon season. Most of the tourists are hosted by Tea Estates in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts. The local tea pluckers and factory, farmworkers play a wonderful and warm host. Especially in Assam, the tea garden workers have a unique history. They were originally from the areas like West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Satishgarh, who were brought here by the British to work in the tea gardens. They are of a sizable population and they have their songs, dance and culture that visitors can explore the culture if they get sufficient time. The good things are that Northeast India is full of many attractions and most of these tea garden resorts are of many other nearby attractions that tourists can visit. For example, various tea gardens of Assam are located very near to major National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, such as Kaziranga, Nameri, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa, Manah etc. The historical places like Sivasagar, river island, Majuli are also worth visiting sites. Assam is the centre of the tea trade. Tea gardens can be found all over Assam, although the concentration is higher in Upper Assam. Many of these Colonial British Bungalows are boutique property for tourists in Assam. There are such properties spread across the Tea Estates of Assam. The best-known properties are to be found in districts of Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinsukia etc. on both north and south banks of the Brahmaputra. Many of these tea gardens have some extra playgrounds like polo fields, and golf courses started in the Pre-Independence period. These play facilities around the Tea Estates can form into an attractive package for tourism development. The production of Organic tea has become a matter of concern to the health-conscious community of the world. From the last few years, many planters of Assam have started practising the organic method of tea cultivation and production. Health-conscious tourists, from across the country and abroad have started to visit this plantation site, to see the manufacturing procedure personally and interact with planters, adding a new chapter to the Tea Tourism of the region. The Assam Tourism Department can tie-up with the Assam Tea Corporation to convert some of their old Bungalows of the Pre-Independence period, into Heritage Bungalow sites of Tea Estates. The Senior Officials of the State Tourism Industry would try to get a boost if Tea Estates become a new destination for travellers. It is high time for Assam Tourism as well as the Tea Estates, to take initiative to attract the exclusive group of tourists in the tea sector. The coordination with the management of tea gardens can effectively do a lot in promoting Tea Tourism in the state. Tea Tourism has occupied a significant position in the economy of a country of the present era, earning currency and strengthening the national economy. Tourism in Assam, besides sustaining the green environment and preserving the heritage and culture, would benefit the state of Assam, by creating employment opportunities and boosting the rural economy and thereby alleviate the insurgency and other socio-economic problems. If the Tea Tourism is highlighted with proper planning and proper prospects, it can help the State government to earn much revenue and also create a new shape of the state like Assam in the map of world tourism.
6.
Indian Army and Assam Rifles have launched large-scale combing operations in the aftermath of the fresh violence in the Imphal Valley to restore peace and normalcy in the strife-torn Manipur.
The operations have also been launched in the vulnerable flash points and in the higher reaches surrounding Imphal Valley.
Continuing with operations, Army and Assam Rifles have launched multiple search operations in areas of Kangchuk, Motbung, Saikul, Pukhao and Sagolmang in the early hours of May 27 in Manipur to track down any armed insurgents operating in these areas.
These operations are part of the overall ongoing efforts of the Army and Assam Rifles to restore peace and normalcy in the State of Manipur.
Army Columns are using the latest technology weapons, equipment and other force multipliers while operating in forested mountainous areas.
Relentless actions by the Army and Assam Rifles on Friday night also resulted in the successful prevention of loss of life each in Churachandpur and Imphal East District.
what is combing?
a military operation in which several allies coordinate their armed forces to accomplish a single mission, effect a defense, or gain some other goal.
7. Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said that with the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Modi fulfilled the wishes of 142 crore Indian people and said that it is a historic day.
The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927 and is now going to be almost 100 years old. The lack of space was being experienced in this building as per the present requirements. In both Houses, there was also a lack of convenient arrangements for the sitting of the MPs which was affecting the efficiency of the work of the Members.
Considering the above, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions urging the government to construct a new building for the Parliament. Consequently, on 10 December 2020, the foundation stone of the new building of Parliament was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The newly constructed Parliament building has been built in record time with quality construction.
Now the newly constructed building of Parliament, which will work to further enrich India’s glorious democratic traditions and constitutional values, is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities which will help the Members to perform their functions in a better way.
The new Parliament building will enable 888 members to sit in the Lok Sabha. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha.
Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha Chamber.
8.
direct international chartered flights for Haj pilgrims of North-East including Assam for Haj pilgrims of India from 21st May have been made non-operational.
although the Ministry of Civil Aviation had issued a tender notice on March 16, 2023, for the Haj 2023 operation, which was to be closed on April 5, 2023, for the operation of chartered flights from 22 locations in India to Jeddah or Medina and back to respective locations between May 21, 2023, and August 2, 2023, including Guwahati as the boarding point for over 6,000 passengers
he Joint State Haj Committee under the Department of Minority and Development, Assam, is the nodal agency for providing necessary assistance to the Haj aspirants of the North East, but it is unfortunate that this Committee is not able to provide direct flights as done in the previous years. In the past years, all international protocols like customs, immigration clearance, etc. for taking international flights for the Haj pilgrims used to be completed at LGBI Airport, Guwahati. However, this year, the Haj pilgrims from north-east India will have to go to either Delhi or Mumbai. This will result in great inconvenience for the Haj pilgrims of the Northeast.
The Joint State Haj Committee of Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland had mentioned sending 6,302 pilgrims to Mecca in 2023, including 4281 males and 2021 females. This is the highest ever in the history of the Haj pilgrimage from these three northeastern states. The district-wise breakup of Haj pilgrims from Assam includes 1080 from Cachar, 864 from Karimganj, 555 from Hailakandi, 305 from Dhubri, 397 from Barpeta, 240 from Darrang, 368 from Nagaon, 282 from Kamrup (M), 301 from Kamrup, 238 from Goalpara, 156 from Lakhimpur, 135 from Nalbari, and 192 from Sivasagar.
9.
The Director General of Police (DGP) for Assam, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, claimed on Saturday that the improvement in the law and order situation in the state has made way for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from 28 out of 35 districts in the state.
He also mentioned that, under the supervision of the chief minister of Assam and with the support of the people of Assam, the police department has been able to conduct recruitment in a transparent and fair manner. It has also been able to conduct improved training programmes and capacity building. He also mentioned that the improved situation has also led to a decline in the number of Central Armed Police Force troops deployed in the state, which now stands at 73 compared to 210 a few years ago.
10.
Oil India Limited set to start exploration along Assam-Nagaland border
the oil PSU is expecting an agreement between the two State governments Assam and Nagaland soon to start the exploration work
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