EC appreciates Udalguri admn for smooth poll conduct

The peaceful conduct of the recent LS poll in Udalguri district under 8 No Mangaldai HPC has been appreciated by all. The district has been infested heavily with violence, extortion etc and there had been fears in the mind of people regarding peaceful conduct of LS poll. But district administration headed by Sadhana Hojai, District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri successfully arranged LS poll in all three LAC namely- 64 Paneri, 69 Udalguri and 70 Mazbat without any violence or disturbance. Starting from planned seating arrangement for trainee personnel to decoding of polling stations and distribution of materials, electioneering was smooth and almost flawless. The seamless flow has reluctant in the cascading effect of a relaxed ambience in the different cells where people had been working hard for the last few weeks. The General Observer of EC S Murugaiyah has expressed his pleasure to see the systemic arrangement made in Udalguri district during his three visits.

AGP poses tough challenge before BJP in Mangalgai HPC

With the ending of election campaign and arrival of polling officials in the polling stations in 8 Mangaldai HPC,BJP has been keenly challenged by AGP and Congress.Earlier it was thought to be a clean sweep for Ramen Deka of BJP. But situation has changed dramatically during last three or four days with Madhab Rajbongshi of AGP gaining public support in various places of the HPC. Chances of BJP candidate has decreased rapidly.The votes that will go in favour of AGP were originally meant for Ramen Deka of BJP. BJPs alleged secret deal with a few Bodo organisations including – ABSU and NDFB(P) has angered many of BJP supporters and they have shifted their support to AGP making congress candidate Kirip Chaliha gainer. So it can be said that there will be a tough triangular contest among Congress,AGP and BJP in Mangaldai HPC. Additional advantage for congress this time will be the mass support of religious minority people. The contest no doubt will be tough and triangular and anyone of BJP,Congress or AGP could win with narrow margin.

Count down starts for LS poll in Udalguri district

Udalguri district administration has completed all the arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the LS poll in the district under 8 Mangaldai HPC on April 24.According to Sadhana Hojai,District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissione,Udalguri,three LAC namely- 64 Paneri,69 Udalguri (ST) and 70 Mazbat are ready for poll. Polling stations have been arranged and security has been tightened up in the district. LAC wise numbers of voters are-1,21,577 (male-62,857 female- 58,720) in 64 Paneri; 1,25,545 (male-64,287 female-61,258) in 69 Udalguri (ST) and 1,20,724 (male-63,369 female-57,355) in 70 Mazbat LAC.There are 3 zones (23 sectors) in 64 Paneri LAC; 2 zones (23 sectors) in 69 Udalguri LAC and 3 zones (24 sectors) in 70 Mazbat LAC as stated by District Election Officer Udalguri. Though major part of 64 Kalaigaon LAC falls in Udalguri district but Election Commission has authorised District Election Officer,Darrang to conduct LS polls in Kalaigaon LAC. There are 1,44,365 (male-74,655 female-69,710) voters in this LAC. The LAC has been divided into 6 zones (23 sectors) with total 168 numbers of polling booths. In view of the ensuing LS poll, Udalguri district administration has declared the period from 5 pm of 22 April to 5 pm of 24 April as Dry Day in the district. Sale and possession of any kind of liqures has been prohibited. By another order Sadhana Hojai,Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri has imposed Section 144 in the district and banned pillion riding till election is over.

Measures to upgrade JFMC Sapangaon as tourist hub discussed

A high level delegation of Udalguri district administration visited Sapangaon JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee)forest near Indo-Bhutan border at Sapangaon on April 9 recently to study and suggest its up gradation to an eco-tourism hot spot. The delegation included Sadhana Hojai,Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri; Girindra Adhikari,DFO, Raju Kumar Brahma,ACF of Dhansiri Forest Division and Jayanta Kumar Das, Hony. Wildlife Warden,Assam.The delegation along with the visiting environmental workers visited the 5 Sq KM picturesque man-made forest and had a discussion with the JFMC members and media persons to chalk out measures to make JFMC Sapangaon a world famous place of positive environmental movement.The Deputy Commissioner advised the JFMC members to plant bamboo,lemon,orange,peeper on commercial basis.The DC also advised the DFO to arrange training of bamboo plantation and craft for the members of the JFMC. The DC also assured that students of various schools of Udalguri district would be taken to JFMC Sapangaon under Jyan Yatra scheme of the government so as to make the students understand the necessity of conservation of flora and fauna.

It needs mention that six villages on the India-Bhutan border at Bhairabkunda joined hands with the Forest Department in successfully regenerating a stretch of barren sandy forest land. The results of this quiet community initiative done under joint forest management (JFMC) are evident with the regenerated forest expanse of 5 sq KM already emerging as a shelter of wild animals and birds. The 22.24 sq KM Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest (RF)was left without a single tree by the early 1980s due to rampant illegal logging. Afforestation drive by forest Deptt. in association of people of six villages namely- Sonaigaon, Goroimari, Bhairabpur, Sapangaon,No.1 Mazargaon and No.2 Mazargaon started in April 2007 and within six years a spectacular man made forest known as JFMC forest has grown up at Sapangaon by converting plot of barren sandy lands measuring 500 hectare (5 sq KM) in to a new picturesque forest by planting khoir,gomari,simul,shisum etc near Dhansiri river,very close to Bhutan and Arunachal. Thaneswar Malakar,former DC of Udalguri sanctioned an amount of rupees five lakhs for the construction of a guest house for visitors. Conservation activists hoped that the place would draw the attention of tourists all over the world,if government developed infrastructure of the area. The regenerated forest land now has rich vegetation and has given shelter to wild elephants, deer, monkeys,leopard,bears etc beside various species of flora.A small river with several canals -a few of those man made runs throughout the forest ,providing replenishment for the green cover.

“Politicians want to reform the country forgetting to reform themselves” : Homen Borgohain

So said eminent scholar and writer of Assam Homen Borgohain at a felicitation ceremony in Borangajuli Satra at Dimakuchi on April 8. Borgohain was felicitated at Sankari Kala Kristi Bhawan,Dimakuchi along with writer Thaneswar Malakar ( former Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri) and noted businessman Mohan Jalan owner of JBs group.They had an interactive session with Bhakat Siromoni Harekrishna Mahanta Ata,founder of Borangajuli Satra and winner of Pitambar Debgoswami National Award at 11 am. Borgohain also planted a sapling at the Satra premises before the felicitation ceremony. Borgohain and other two people were felicitated with gamocha,japi,xorai and arnai each.

Noted writer Thaneswar Malakar thanked Harekrishna Mahanta Ata for inviting Borgohain to remote Dimakuchi near India Bhutan international border. He remarked that Bogohain had been the most discussed respected man in the state. He requested people to study his books so as to conquer mental depression. Mentioning about Bap Harekrishna Mahanta Ata,who had established 27 Satras in Udalguri district infested with violence,extortion,man-elephant conflict etc. Borgohain while speaking was in all praise for Mahanta Ata,who at the age of 88 years is busy in his never ending mission of charity at a time when most other people have been running after wealth and personal comfort.He remarked that what Sankardev had introduced six hundred years back has now been forgotten by his present day followers. He specially thanked Mahanta Ata and Borangajuli Satra saying that had Mahanta Ata had been there in Majuli, Missing people wouldnot have converted into Christianity. According to him only Mahanta Ata has practically implemented ideologies of Sankardev by uniting people of all backward communities including Bodo,Rabha,Adivasi etc.in Borangajuli Satra. It needs mention that the Satra which was established in 1953 has now been run by a management committee headed by Suk Ram Boro and other tribal and Adivasi people. Referring to present day politics,Borgohain remarked that politicians of today want to reform the country forgetting to reform themselves.He expressed his displeasure at the activities of most of the present day politicians of India.

The felicitation ceremony was also addressed by Bhakat Siromoni Harekrishna Mahanta Ata, Gopal Jalan,Bipul Barchang etc. Suk Ram Boro,president of the Satra management committee offered vote of thanks at the end. Later Borgohain along with Thaneswar Malakar visited Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary in the afternoon and talked to forest personnel stationed there.

Students launch voters' awareness programme in Udalguri district

In view of the ensuing LS poll in the state election commission has engaged students to create awareness among voters to franchise their valuable votes for a stronger democracy. On the occasion Udalguri district administration organised debate competition at various schools and colleges on April 4 in the district.The topic of the debate was “Right to vote is basic duty of a citizen” (for school level) and “Why should I cast the vote” (for college level).Schools of Kalaigaon organised debate competition among students. On April 5, students of various schools of Kalaigaon namely- Kalaigaon Girls HS, Kalaigaon Secondary School, Bholabari HS, Sunjwrang HS,Tengabari HS,Kalaigaon Madrasa HS took out huge bi-cycle rally at 10 am. Thousands of school students holding play cards and banners toured various roads of Kalaigaon town requesting people to cast their valuable votes. The cyclists finally assembled at Kalaigaon Revenue Circle premises where they were addressed by Dinamoni Das,ERO,65 Kalaigaon LAC. The ERO explained about the necessity of casting votes. He said that although students do not vote ,but can motivate other voters including their parents to cast votes in favour of honest candidates for a corruption free democracy. RL Sinha,Senior BDO,Kalaigaon and Kamal Prasad Sarma,Mouzadar, Kalaigaon also spoke on the occasion.The wole activity in the district was sponsored by Sadhana Hojai,ARO,8 Mangaldai HPC cum Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri and Dr.Bhupen Das,Inspector of Schools,Udalguri.