Assam Current Affairs 11 June

1.

Domkoich Song Type in news:

 “domkoich” is the name of a Jhumur song genre. The well-known folk song ‘Chol Mini Assam Jabo’ also referred to as the Domkoich song, has enjoyed widespread acclaim.
Kali Dasgupta, a renowned folk artist, along with various other artists and cultural activists, has performed, recorded, and popularized this song. Each rendition brings a renewed freshness, and the enchanting tunes
of ‘Chol Mini Assam Jabo’ echo on. Its melody carries a unique tenderness, encapsulating themes of relocation, memories of loss and deceit, and the arduous life within Assam’s tea gardens. This illustrates the power of music to preserve memories and convey the struggles individuals endure.

2.

The Assam Government has launched the Assam Credit Guarantee Scheme, which will securitize financing for the state’s medium and small companies. Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) is jointly set up by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Govt of India, will provide 75% – 85% of the guarantee coverage for loan facilities under the Scheme, based on the borrower’s category and balance. The Government of Assam will give 25% – 15% coverage, bringing the total guarantee coverage to 100%. Claims of the respective MLI shall be settled up to a maximum of 10% NPA of the crystallised portfolio (the portfolio will be crystallised every fiscal year). In the event that the NPA level exceeds the stated limit, CGTMSE will honour its part, which is 75%-85%.

In 2022, Assam Government signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with CGTMSE for the Assam Credit Guarantee Scheme and SIDBI Venture Capital for the Assam Startup Venture Capital Fund in order to allow rapid industrialization and revitalise the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the agreement at an MSME conclave, stating that the cooperation with CGTMSE is meant to provide extra guarantee coverage for loans made by lending institutions to MSMEs in Assam. Meanwhile, the Scheme goes into effect on April 1, 2023. All existing MLIS will be eligible for ACGS. Apart from the 100% guarantee coverage, all other terms and conditions of the Credit Guarantee Schemes (CGSI for banks and CGS – II for NBFCs) will apply to ACGS, mutatis mutandis. This project will aid in satisfying the financial needs of MSES in Assam. Meanwhile, the CM stated that another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) inked with SIDBI Venture Capital Fund (SVCL) intended to function as an investment manager for the proposed Assam Start-up Venture Capital Fund.

The Assam Start-up Venture Fund, with a total corpus of Rs 200 crore, would also be established by SVCL.

3.

People paid their homages to the Sukracharjya Rabha on his 5th death anniversary on Friday in an event organised in Rampur in the Goalpara district of Assam. The noted theatre personality was the person behind the popular ‘Under the Sal Tree’ theatre festival of Assam.

He was also awarded several prizes including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of Sangeet Natak Akademi. He passed away on June 8 2018 at the age of 41 because of a heart attack but his legacy has been carried forward by the society he had established.

Under the Sal Tree’ Theatre Festival

• ‘Under the Sal Tree’ theatre festival is held every December inside the sal forest of Rampur village in Goalpara district of Assam.
• It is a three day theatre festival organised in the middle of a jungle with an aim to connect human beings with nature.
• The festival was initiated by noted Assamese theatre personality Sukracharya Rabha

4.

The Assam Government has announced that it will provide Rs. 25,000 to each of the Bihu performers who participated in a historic event in Guwahati on June 28 and 29. The event took place on April 13 and aimed to set a Guinness World Record for “The largest Bihu performance in a single venue.” A total of 11,304 Bihu dancers and 2,548 drummers will receive the cash prize along with a digital certificate.

Assam gained global recognition for its Bihu performance, receiving greetings and appreciation from various parts of the country as well as abroad. The state set two world records on that day: one for the largest Bihu dance in a single frame and another for the largest (Dhuliya) drummer ensemble. Over 13,500 Bihuwotis and dhuliyas contributed to this grand effort. The mega Bihu performance was organized to showcase Assam’s cultural heritage and put the state on the world map. The government made the Rongali Bihu of 2023 a special occasion by undertaking this spectacular initiative. The performers had undergone extensive practice, with auditions held across the state to bring together the best talents for this event.

the event would raise awareness of Assam and its rich cultural heritage. The state government had set a target to achieve two world records: the largest Bihu dance in a single frame and the largest (Dhuliya) drummer ensemble. The decision to provide financial support and recognition to the Bihu performers demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting and preserving Assam’s cultural traditions. It serves as a motivation for artists and encourages the continuation of such vibrant cultural celebrations in the future.

5.

The Government of BTC has issued directive to the departments of the Council to observe the Martyrs’ Day, commemorating the martyrdom of Sujit Narzary, the 1st martyr of Bodoland movement on June 12 in their respective offices

Sujit Narzary of Bhatipara, Kokrajhar became the first martyr of Bodoland movement launched by ABSU in 1987. The bus travelled by Narzary came under attack by miscreants in Tihu Chalk in Barpeta district while they were returning to Kokrajhar from a grant mass rally of the ABSU held at Gauhati Judges Field on June 12. Since then the Bodos have been observing his martyrdom as the Martyrs’ Day across the State. The ABSU observe the Martyrs’ Day in every unit, anchalik and district level every year. But from this year, the BTC authority has also decided to observe the day in the office of all transferred departments.

6.

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday visited the Sri Sri Aniruddha Deva Sports University coming up at Chabua in Dibrugarh district

The governor later visited the multi-disciplinary sports complex coming up at Khanikar on the outskirts of Dibrugarh town beside the Dibrugarh town bypass, and assessed its progress. The sports university is named after Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, a great Vaishnava saint and a social reformer from Assam in the medieval period. The primary aim of the university is to prepare top tier sports scientists, physical educationists and sports coaches and high-class researchers in the area of sport psychology, exercise science, sport bio-mechanics, sport medicine, sport physiotherapy and health education, sport technology and sport analytics. The university also plans to create world level infrastructures for training elite athletes for enhancing medal tallies for India in international sport competitions. The university intends to be at the epicentre of sports development in Assam and neighbouring states and contribute in making India the sporting powerhouse of the world.

6b.

Jyotish Ranjan Deka of Kalaigaon in Udalguri district has been selected for a fully funded PhD programme in Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (83rd World Ranking) in USA. He is presently working in Wildlife Institution of India, Dehradun. Jyotish Ranjan Deka had completed his HSLC exam from Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district in 2011 and completed his HSSLC exam and BSc (Geography) from Mangaldai College. He completed his MSc (Geography) from Sikim University. Mangaldai Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia has congratulated this rural talent for his selection to a prominent American University.

7.

Assam Education Minister Ranoj has expressed disappointment with the results of the Higher Secondary (HS) examinations in provincialized degree colleges. As a result, he acted quickly, launching a performance assessment of these colleges and requesting explanations from their principals.

According to data given by the Education Ministry, the pass percentage for government institutions was 75.93%, while the pass percentage for provincialized high schools was 76.17%. Provincialized degree colleges, on the other hand, reported a substantially lower pass percentage of only 56.89%. Provincialized senior secondary schools performed better, with 78.35% passing. Assam HS Result 2023: Stream-wise Toppers Science – Nikhilesh Dutta (484/500) Arts – Sankalpajit Saikia (490/500) Commerce – Varsha Bothra and Sukanya Kumar (472/500) The pass percentages in several streams have decreased. The pass rate in the Arts stream fell from 83.48% last year to 70.12% this year, while the success rate in Science fell from 92.19% to 84.96%. Similarly, in Commerce, the percentage fell from 87.27% to 79.57%. Even in the Vocational stream, the pass percentage fell from 89.30% last year to 85.61% this year. On the other hand, as the performance audit progresses, students, parents, and education stakeholders eagerly await the findings and subsequent corrective measures. The government’s commitment to tackling the issues faced by provincialized degree colleges is viewed as a significant step towards improving Assam’s overall educational standard. The principals of the provincialized degree colleges are anticipated to give their reasons in the coming weeks, shedding light on the factors that contributed to the dismal HS results. The performance audit findings will help the Education Ministry develop specific measures to improve the academic performance of these colleges and provide a brighter future for the students.

8.

Tensions escalated in the Silsako locality of Guwahati when a Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) engineer was held captive by an agitated crowd during an eviction drive. The engineer had visited the area to assess the progress of ongoing work when his vehicle was blocked by an angry mob, creating a heated situation. The Dispur police were promptly notified and dispatched to the scene to defuse the tension. The incident seems to be linked to a dispute over eviction in Silsako, as the crowd obstructed the authorities’ efforts to carry out the eviction. As a result, the situation remains tense while legal authorities work to restore order and address the underlying issues. In a separate incident on May 28, the state government initiated a four-day-long eviction drive at the Orang National Park in Assam’s Sonitpur district. The aim was to clear encroachments in an animal corridor within the park. The Orang National Park spans across both Sonitpur and Darrang districts. Deba Kumar Mishra, the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur district, communicated that the eviction drive covered riverine areas in the district. This indicates that the focus of the operation was on clearing settlements located along rivers and water bodies within the district.

It is important to note that eviction drives often generate tensions and conflicts, as they involve the removal of individuals or communities from land or properties they have occupied. Such drives are typically carried out to address issues like encroachment, environmental conservation, or urban development. However, they can also give rise to disputes and protests, as affected parties may feel aggrieved or perceive the evictions as unjust. In the case of the GMDA engineer being held captive in Silsako, it is crucial for the authorities to handle the situation with care and ensure the safety of all parties involved. Open dialogue, negotiation, and a fair resolution are essential to address the underlying concerns and prevent further escalation of tensions. Eviction drives and related incidents like these highlight the complexities surrounding land disputes and the need for effective communication, community engagement, and appropriate legal mechanisms to address such issues in a just and equitable manner.

9.

The Assam government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore under the department of transformation & development for construction of a namghar in Namsang village in Tirap district.

This project is a joint initiative of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and PHE&WS Minister Wangki Lowang to revive and strengthen the age-old relation that exists between the Noctes and the Ahoms.

The Namsang namghar will be built in honour of ‘Hote the First’, the Nocte king of undivided Namsang and Borduria kingdoms, who accepted tenets of Vaishnavism in the late 18th century at the Bali Satra of Sasoni village in Naharkartiya. Sree Ram Dev, the satradhikar of the satra and Hote’s guru, baptised his Nocte disciple as ‘narottam’, which means ‘the best among men’.

Till today, narottam is honoured by the Noctes by performing an annual rituals in his name.

Places such as Narottam Nagar in Deomali, Narottam Nocte Heritage and Cultural Centre in Borduria, etc, have been named after Hote.

About Nocte tribe:

The Nocte people, also known as the Nocte Naga, are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group primarily living in Northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. They number about 111,679 (Census 2011), mainly found in the Patkai hills of Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Ethnically related to the Konyak Naga, their origins can be traced back to the Hukong Valley in Myanmar, where they migrated from between the 1670 and 1700.

Their chiefs who were originally known as Ang exert control over the village with his council the “Ngoang-Wang” (modern-day cabinet), and since they did not have an army under their control they would consult trusted family (lowang-tang) on an important matter. The Chief also consult village elders and priests on all important socio-religious ceremonies.

The Nocte followed an age-old tradition of keeping bodies of the deceased relatives in the open, either near a river or just outside their houses. The Nocte Christians, like most Nocte, would keep their body exposed for three days, although they are kept in the house.

Inevitably, the decomposed bodies would attract bacteria, insects, and germs lying in the open that produced a terrible stench. This was the cause of the frequent outbreaks of health-threatening diseases. Owing to public health education by reformers, the burial of the deceased in proper coffins have completely supplaced this traditional rite since 2004. The Kheti village, which is not far removed from Khonsa, was the last village to give up this practice in the modern Nocte society

10.

A documentary film titled ‘Dharohar: The Resurrection’,   has been released by  the Vice chancellor of Assam University, Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant

 It is based on the Sanskrit speaking villages of Anipur basti and Patiala basti of Karimganj district of Barak valley. 

These two remote villages have adapted Sanskrit as their language of communication. They are not only speaking Sanskrit but have also adapted sanatan culture in their daily life which is reflected in their Vedic chantings and performing yagyas as they perform it on a monthly basis. The villagers have also translated many translating folk songs into Sanskrit and this has helped them achieve a very unique position.