Assam CA analysis 31 May

1.

Assam Government on May 30 informed Gauhati High Court that it would launch a state-wide testing campaign to determine the excessive use of pesticides in vegetables and other farm produces.

The state government informed the high court in an affidavit that 200 testing kits from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had been brought in for testing purposes.

Throughout the testing process, the government will submit periodic reports that will assist in documenting the quantity of pesticides found in the test samples.

In April of this year, the Gauhati High Court noted that Assam lacked a system for immediately detecting the presence of pesticides in farm produce and vegetables.

When it made the observation, the high court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) about the use of pesticides in vegetables that end up in the food chain.

Different offices including horticulture, legal sciences and wellbeing were coordinated to go to sufficient lengths for examining the vegetables that were imported to the city before they entered the market and were offered to residents.

 the state’s crops and vegetables were excessively contaminated with heavy materials and pesticides that were harmful to human health.
A central taskforce met with the district’s Agriculture Development Officers (ADO) in Goalpara, Assam, the month before to investigate the widespread use of chemicals and pesticides.

2.

Water supply delivery to households, through the scheme financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Guwahati, Assam, would be halted till June 6

the water supply has been shut off until Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) technical specialists investigate the process issue and the overall infrastructure. It is believed that when all tests and monitoring tasks are finished, the repair work will begin. According to sources, water will likely be delivered to Guwahati residents by June 7 or 8.

It should be noted that within a single week, there were two cases of water pipeline bursts recorded in different parts of Guwahati. After a Gammon JICA water supply mainline pipe burst on Thursday, it caused damage to surrounding homes and many vehicles in the Kharguli area of Guwahati. As a result, several families are now homeless. In Kharguli, the situation is still dangerous after a water supply pipeline rupture incident that also took the life of a woman and injured a number of individuals nearby. The families who have been left stranded in Kharguli’s Joypur, where the water pipeline burst yesterday, people were provided shelter at Joypur Primary School. Meanwhile, Assam cabinet minister for housing and urban affairs, Ashok Singhal visited the site of the incident last night and took stock of the situation there. The Mayor of Guwahati, Mrigen Sarania also visited the site where the water pipeline burst in Kharguli. It should be highlighted that one person, a woman by the name of Sumitra Rabha, died as a result of the ruptured water supply pipeline in Kharguli.

3.

Setting up another milestone in the journey of academic progress, not only of the college and Lakhimpur district, but that of entire North Assam, North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous) has introduced Ph.D Programme in three more academic departments of the college. These departments are Education, Botany and English. Prior to it, the Departments of Assamese and Political Science of the college launched the Ph.D Programme and has successfully produced Ph.D holder scholars.

What is an autonomous college?

As per a recent news, the colleges in India receiving scores of 3.51 or more on a scale of 0 to 4, from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), or colleges that are accredited in three or more programmes with scores of 750 or more in every programme, by National Accreditation Board (NAB) would automatically become eligible for an autonomy status. The decision was taken on the recommendation of a NITI Ayog Committee.

here are few key differences between autonomous and non-autonomous colleges.

The Key Difference

Flexibility

In one of the interviews taken by the prominent newspaper ‘The Hindu’, B. Sadashive Gowda, principal, Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru was requested to elucidate the difference between autonomous and non-autonomous engineering institutions, to which he responded saying that autonomous colleges are granted the flexibility to design their own curriculum. That allows autonomous colleges to produce graduates to meet industry requirements.

In terms of flexibility, students of non-autonomous colleges are more relaxed, as the rules are set by the university and hence conducive.

Examination Pattern

The papers in an autonomous college are set by the faculty, and hence are quite predictable. Often this becomes the reason to study in the pattern or course elucidated in the classrooms.

However, such is not the case in non-autonomous colleges, as the question papers are set by the university committee. This is the reason why students are cautious and most of the times choose to study as per the syllabus provided at the beginning of the year, instead of only basing their studies on classroom teachings.

Admission Process

The other major difference between these two systems is their admission process. For an autonomous college, the decision of a student’s admission lies with the head of the college. Therefore, it is easy to get admission in an autonomous college.

The admissions of non-autonomous colleges are mostly based on entrance exams or on the merit system. Therefore, it is not that easy to get admission in these colleges.

4.

The Assam government’s fisheries department announced that 10 out of a total of 86 samples tested positive for the presence of formalin in Chalani or imported fish into Assam. Speaking at a press conference on the subject today at Gauhati University, the fisheries department highlighted that 86 fish samples were collected from every district in the state and tested for the presence of the lethal formalin in imported fish.

About Formalin:

Formalin is a toxic, colourless solution that is derived by dissolving formaldehyde gas in water.

• It is a cancer-inducing chemical used to preserve fish and is used as a disinfectant. It is used in the manufacture of pesticides, fertilisers, glue, paper and paint, among other products.
• Formalin causes irritation in the eyes, throat, skin and stomach. In the long run continued exposure causes harm to the kidneys, liver and can even cause cancers.
• Formaldehyde is a highly reactive, flammable gas, which means it can become a fire hazard when exposed to flame or heat.

Why is fish laced with formalin?

Fish is a highly perishable commodity. If it isn’t maintained at the proper temperature of 5 degree Celsius, it gets spoilt. To avoid that and increase its shelf life, the sellers now use chemicals such as formalin and ammonia.

• If the point of sale is far from the place of catch, formalin is used as a preservative. Meanwhile, ammonia is mixed with the water that is frozen to keep fish fresh.

5.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta chaired a review meeting with the health department officials at the Sukafa Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner’s office, Sivasagar on various issues regarding health sector in the distric.

He discussed in details about the reduction in infant maternal mortality rate, increase in institutional delivery rate, Chief Minister’s Free Diagnostic Service, Prime Minister’s Free Dialysis Service, Chief Minister’s Free Diagnostic X-ray Service, construction of infrastructure under National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Assam-Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana, preparation of e-KYC of Jan Arogya Yojana , progress of Prime Minister Tuberculosis Free India Mission, infrastructure and ancillary requirements of First Referral Unit (FRU) hospitals, Block Primary Health Centres and Primary Health Centers in the district.

Read the details of these schemes (GS 5 syllabus) at: https://nhm.assam.gov.in/schemes

6.

The All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) has expressed strong reaction and vehement resentment for not inviting President of India Droupadi Murmu to the inaugural event of new parliament building on Sunday.

The Constitution of India clearly states that, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” (Chapter-II, Article-79). Parliament is not just a building but also the very symbol of democracy itself where the whole nation comes together to govern themselves through their elected representatives. The basic question they are stuck with is- ‘Was electing Her Excellency a political move on the first part and is Her Excellency being left out from the joyous occasion for being an Aboriginal Woman?”

What are the main features of the new Parliament building?

The official website says the new building, which stands alongside the existing Parliament House, “reflects the aspirations of 135 crore Indians”. The old and new Parliament buildings “will work together as an ensemble” to “facilitate smooth and efficient functioning of operations”.

The official website lists the following salient features of the new Parliament:

* It has a built-up area of about 65,000 sq m, with its triangular shape ensuring the optimum utilisation of space.

* The new building will house a larger Lok Sabha hall with a capacity of up to 888 seats, and a larger Rajya Sabha hall with a capacity of upto 384 seats. The Lok Sabha may accommodate up to 1,272 seats for joint sessions of Parliament.

* The Lok Sabha hall is based on the peacock theme, India’s national bird.

* The Rajya Sabha is based on the lotus theme, India’s national flower.

* A state of the art Constitutional Hall in the building “symbolically and physically puts the Indian citizens at the heart of our democracy”, says the official website.

* The building will have ultra-modern office spaces that will be secure, efficient, and equipped with the latest communications technology.

* The new building will have large committee rooms with the latest audio-visual equipment, and will provide a superior library experience.

* A “Platinum-rated Green Building”, the new Sansad Bhavan will embody India’s commitment towards environmental sustainability, according to the website.

* The building will be an embodiment of Indian heritage, reflecting the “vibrance and diversity of modern India, incorporating our cultural and regional arts and crafts”.

* The new Parliament will be divyang friendly, and people with disabilities will be able to move around freely, says the website.

7.

“The education sector in Assam has introduced a new ‘Hackathon’ education. Hackathon education is already prevalent in developed countries of the world to provide additional education to students. Additional courses have been arranged through hackathon education to develop the brains of the students.”

450 universities in the country have covered 15 important additional teaching aspects for the society and the citizens of the country through the ‘Hackathon’ education with the aim of making the students constructive, additional thinking and quality. The hackathon will make the citizens of the country more quality thinkers. Therefore, the hackathon section is trying to innovate by taking it to the students. This will enhance the quality of the new generation.

What is the purpose of a hackathon?

Hackathons bring people with technical backgrounds together for problem-solving and developing new ideas. Hackathons can help participants hone their IT skills, meet people and work with others in their field.

8.

Consuming poisonous mushroom turned a serious matter in Golghat district. Altogether 16 people are under treatment at Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital after consuming poisonous mushroom.

Mushroom poisoning, also known as mycetism or mycetismus and happens due to ingestion of toxic mushrooms

3 ways to tell if a mushroom is poisonous:

SAY NO TO DECAYED AND OLD MUSHROOMS: You would of course not pick decayed and old mushrooms but there is more to spotting the good ones from bad. While buying mushrooms make sure to check that they are fresh, firm and most importantly, whole. The mushroom should have no damage from any insects or animals. If you see that the mushroom is bitten, then do not buy it.

DO NOT BUY PARASOL SHAPED (UMBRELLA-SHAPED) MUSROOMS: Avoid picking mushrooms that are in the shape of an umbrella and has white rings around the stem. These parasol-shaped mushrooms, which are also bright in colour, may be Amanitas mushrooms that are full of nature’s deadliest poison. These mushrooms get brown as they get older.

AVOID FALSE MOREL MUSHROOMS: A mushroom with irregular and wrinkled cap that looks like a saddle should also not be consumed.

OTHER WAYS: Sweet smelling mushrooms, Jack O’ Lantern and little brown mushrooms should also be avoided. Experienced people can easily distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms. If you do not have any experience at picking up mushrooms, avoid buying yourself as it may put you at risk.

9.

A horrific incident took place on Monday night in Krishnai area under Goalpara district, where a forest staff was killed while three others seriously injured during a clash with illegal timber smugglers. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh visited Dudhnoi in Goalpara District and took stock of the situation.

Shibamoni Pegu, Ranger, Krishnai Forest Office said that she got information about smugglers cutting trees under the Boro Matia Proposed Reserve Forest under Krishnai Forest Office on Monday night around 8pm

 attacks on forest staff mean trying to disrupt the Assam government’s initiative to increase the forest land in Assam from 36% to 38%

Sal Trees
The Sal tree (scientific name Shorea robusta), belongs to the plant family Dipterocarpaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, ranging south of the Himalaya, from Myanmar in the east to Nepal, India and Bangladesh. In India, Sal trees are found in Assam, Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand west to the Shivalik Hills in Haryana, east of the Yamuna, as well as in the Eastern Ghats, the eastern Vindhya and Satpura ranges of central India.
There are many protected areas, such as Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park, where there are dense forests of huge sal trees. It is also found in the lower belt of the Hilly region and Inner Terai.

10.

The 44th Inter State Senior Athletics championship for men and women will be held at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium on June 4. The competition will be organized by the Assam Athletics Association. The last date of players’ entry is June 2.