The mysterious death of another male wild elephant calf
in Udalguri district has drawn sharp criticism from the nature loving people of the district. This has been the case of fourth death in a row in just two months in the district. According to information,the dead body of a two months old jumbo calf was found in line no.5 of Hatigarh TE (very close to Red Horns Division Brigade HQ) on the morning of July 3.The body of the dead calf did not bore any mark of injury but looked very weak and pale.Experts said that the calf could have been suffering from malnutrition. They also said that because of the frequent chasing away of the wild elephant herds,the mother elephant could not spare time to feed her infant causing death to him.So far as many as 14 numbers of wild elephants had been killed in Udalguri district in a year time. Although world wide protests had been received,but neither the government nor the tea garden authorities had shown any interest in the matter. Rather they had been busy with clearing forest lands only.
A large numbers of tea gardens including small ones have been established in the northern areas of the district thereby destroying most of the forest cover in last decades leaving no room for the wild animals. The tea gardens established during British rule too had been expanding their gardens by encroaching more and more forest lands. It is time that the government became serious on matters of land and revenue in the areas. It is learned that the lands were alloted to tea gardens on lease basis (for a period of 30 years generally).But the lease agreements had been prepared hundreds years back and the fixation of revenue was too small. The government could earn good revenues if new lease agreements were prepared with the increased in land revenue. More over most of the tea gardens have been occupying more lands than mentioned in the lease deed. Nature loving people of Udalguri urged Assam and BTC government to take steps so as to find the actual land holdings by the tea gardens with immediate effect. NA few nature loving people of the district also said that forest department could never implement any schemes in the areas dominated by the tea gardens to protect wild animals and birds without involving tea garden managements. Tea garden managements must be told to raise special squads to protect both wild animals and people. But unfortunately the role being played by the tea gardens had never been encouraging .Recently a wild elephant survey team headed by the Circle Office, Harisinga Revenue Circle (Tangla) along with forest and media personals had been refused entry to Hatigarh TE .Tea gardens ,various NGOs and government agencies must work closely to stop the so called man elephant conflict by creating general awareness among people;otherwise of which the conflict would go on causing great loss to mankind.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Campaign against trafficking of children,girls and women launched in Udalguri in India
The alarming increasing rate of trafficking of children, adolescent girls and women has now been considered to be the most important social problem of not only Udalguri but BTAD districts as well.the small children are being trafficked for engagement in different shops or factories in the hazardous condition despite of the existence of child labor prohibitory acts in the country. By the way of engagement of child labor ,the children are most often harassed, abused and even more dragged into street begging by some notorious professionals.The adolescent girls of the poor families are also quite often convinced by the middle man or woman for working as domestic servants in towns and cities at higher rate of payment and are being trafficked.The parents or guardian cannot refrain from temptation.But they can never see or know anything at what situation their children and girls are facing at their work place.
The adolescent girls are also sexually abused at their work place leading them pregnant and nursing mothers.Even more such girls are being murdered after sexual abuse.The women are also allured by the brokers (Dalals) and trafficked to places like Delhi,Gujrat,Mumbai,Agra,Jummu,Kolkata and Siliguri etc. Interception of large numbers of such girls an women at Rangia and New Bongaigaon etc by social organizations like ABSU has proved the seriousness of the problem. The Dalals are said to be paid Rs.25000 in average for each of the girl or woman.Large numbers of bogus placement agencies operating from Delhi,Agra,Mumbai and Kolkata etc. enroll hundreds of agents in Assam to lure girls and women.
Recently an Assam Police team had raided the premises of several such placement agencies in New Delhi and rescued several victims. According to Sekhar Biswas,Officer In-charge,Kalaigaon Police Station (who personally supervised the raid in New Delhi) told this correspondent that brokers of such placement agencies used to shuttle once in month between Assam and New Delhi etc.Moreover all those placement agencies had no valid permission from the government.A few such placement agencies operating from New Delhi are - SS Maid Service;Raj Enterprise;Tania Maid Service;Assami Maid Service;Dipti Enterprise;National Placement service ;Sweta Placement service;Sanjana Maid Service etc. have been continuing their antisocial activities in New Delhi unabated .
Udalguri district administration,headed by Deputy Commissioner S.S Meenakshi Sundaram,IAS,recently convened an emergency meeting at Udalguri on June 23 to discuss the matter.The meeting which was held at the DCs conference Hallwas attended by high level civil and police officials beside ABSU and Bodo Women activists.The Deputy Commissioner who had presided over the meeting directed all civil and police officials of the district to implement the guidelines issued by the BTC Authority to stop illegal trafficking activities in the district.A district level Women Cell was formed with DC,Udalguri as the Chairman; P.K.Mahanta,ADC as the Member Secretary;all ADCs, SP, Addl SP, SDO (Civil)Bhergaon,Joint Director of Health,Superintendent of Excise as the members beside three civilian members namely - Nerkhang Khakhlary(district secretary ABSU); Dipti Daimari,(Bodo women activist) and Jayanta Das (social worker).The meeting decided to form Sub-Divisional,and ICDS project level committees for creating awareness among common people.
The adolescent girls are also sexually abused at their work place leading them pregnant and nursing mothers.Even more such girls are being murdered after sexual abuse.The women are also allured by the brokers (Dalals) and trafficked to places like Delhi,Gujrat,Mumbai,Agra,Jummu,Kolkata and Siliguri etc. Interception of large numbers of such girls an women at Rangia and New Bongaigaon etc by social organizations like ABSU has proved the seriousness of the problem. The Dalals are said to be paid Rs.25000 in average for each of the girl or woman.Large numbers of bogus placement agencies operating from Delhi,Agra,Mumbai and Kolkata etc. enroll hundreds of agents in Assam to lure girls and women.
Recently an Assam Police team had raided the premises of several such placement agencies in New Delhi and rescued several victims. According to Sekhar Biswas,Officer In-charge,Kalaigaon Police Station (who personally supervised the raid in New Delhi) told this correspondent that brokers of such placement agencies used to shuttle once in month between Assam and New Delhi etc.Moreover all those placement agencies had no valid permission from the government.A few such placement agencies operating from New Delhi are - SS Maid Service;Raj Enterprise;Tania Maid Service;Assami Maid Service;Dipti Enterprise;National Placement service ;Sweta Placement service;Sanjana Maid Service etc. have been continuing their antisocial activities in New Delhi unabated .
Udalguri district administration,headed by Deputy Commissioner S.S Meenakshi Sundaram,IAS,recently convened an emergency meeting at Udalguri on June 23 to discuss the matter.The meeting which was held at the DCs conference Hallwas attended by high level civil and police officials beside ABSU and Bodo Women activists.The Deputy Commissioner who had presided over the meeting directed all civil and police officials of the district to implement the guidelines issued by the BTC Authority to stop illegal trafficking activities in the district.A district level Women Cell was formed with DC,Udalguri as the Chairman; P.K.Mahanta,ADC as the Member Secretary;all ADCs, SP, Addl SP, SDO (Civil)Bhergaon,Joint Director of Health,Superintendent of Excise as the members beside three civilian members namely - Nerkhang Khakhlary(district secretary ABSU); Dipti Daimari,(Bodo women activist) and Jayanta Das (social worker).The meeting decided to form Sub-Divisional,and ICDS project level committees for creating awareness among common people.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Unabated killing of wild elephants poses threat to ecology in Assam
The tragic death of two wild elephant calves near Indo-Bhutan border in Udalguri district has again exposed cruelty of human beings. According to information received,two wild elephant calves (one of three years and the other just only one year old ) were found dead in the Nepaligaon village near Koramore under Harisinga Revenue Circle,in the morning of June 13.According to the version of the local people a herd of wild elephant was seen moving in the nearby villages the previous day.A few villagers said that the wild elephants were looking for food. They further said that the elephant could have eaten the poisonous mixture of urea and pesticides kept open to be used in the mini private tea gardens located in the Amraiguri areas 3 km away from Nepaligaon.It is suspected that the elephants had mistaken the poisonous mixture of urea and pesticides to be common salt.
It needs mention that hundreds of private mini tea gardens had been etablished in the northern areas of Udalguri district,previously belonged to thick forests where wild elephants could roam free. Encroachment of all the forest lands under direct patronage of Circle Officers,Mandals etc. during the last decade had been the root cause of so called man elephant conflict in the district. A total of ten wild elephants had been killed in 2009 and three in 2010 (including the present two )posing serious threat to ecology.
A government team headed by DN Hazarika,Circle Officer,Harisinga Revenue Circle along with forest veterinary and police officials visited the spot on June 13 before postmortem was done. Last fortnight witnessed the death of a ten years old wild elephant ( electrocuted or poisoned?) at Bhutiachang TE.in Udalguri district. Nature loving people have expressed serious concern at the unnatural deaths of three wild elephants in a month in a single district and condemned government apathy towards solving the problem
It needs mention that hundreds of private mini tea gardens had been etablished in the northern areas of Udalguri district,previously belonged to thick forests where wild elephants could roam free. Encroachment of all the forest lands under direct patronage of Circle Officers,Mandals etc. during the last decade had been the root cause of so called man elephant conflict in the district. A total of ten wild elephants had been killed in 2009 and three in 2010 (including the present two )posing serious threat to ecology.
A government team headed by DN Hazarika,Circle Officer,Harisinga Revenue Circle along with forest veterinary and police officials visited the spot on June 13 before postmortem was done. Last fortnight witnessed the death of a ten years old wild elephant ( electrocuted or poisoned?) at Bhutiachang TE.in Udalguri district. Nature loving people have expressed serious concern at the unnatural deaths of three wild elephants in a month in a single district and condemned government apathy towards solving the problem
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Uncommon 'Bhellaghar' constructed at Naamkhola in Darrang district in Assam
On the occasion of Magh Bihu,people of Assam in India used to worship the God of Fire in the very morning of January 14.They construct a house made of bamboo and thatch in open paddy field (after harvesting).People eat feasts there in the night and burn it in the morning to please God of Fire.
An uncommon such 'Bhellaghar' had been constructed in a village near Naamkhola in the district of Darrang.The 'Bhellaghar' was four storied,which had attracted a large number of people of the district till January 15.
Miscreants hurl grenade in Udalguri in Assam; 1 dead 13 injured
Miscreants hurl grenade in Udalguri in Assam; 1 dead 13 injured
One Gagan Das (34) was killed and 13 injured on spot in Udalguri town near Shwahid Bedi on January 15 at 6.50 pm when unidentified miscreants hurled a hand grenade.According to reliable sources the incident had resulted out of the clashes between the NDFB and NDFB (cease fire ) groups.The incident has created sensation in the district.According to eye witnesses two cycle borne youths threw a chinese made hand grenade at the crowded spot killing one youth and injuring 13 others.Army and police had cordoned off the area but none could be arrested so far.Some of the injured were Bipul Pal,Riju Hazarika,Bikash Deka,Biju Sutradhar etc.The irate public destroyed the Udalguri Civil Hospital buildings on the plea that doctors were not present in time.Dr.S S Meenakshi Sundaram,DC Udalguri and Col.Y.Choudhuri Commanding Officer 315 Field Regiment (Kargil)told this correspondent that the situation was under control and the unruly mob wrere dispered.DC also Said that the seven critically injured persons were shifted to GMCH for further treatment.In the mean time Dr.Meenakkshi Sundaram,DC Udalguri along with Col.Y Choudhuri and A Tiwari,SP Udalguri had rushed to the spot for investigation.Condemning the act senior citizens of the district said that targetting innocent people would not serve any purpose.
One Gagan Das (34) was killed and 13 injured on spot in Udalguri town near Shwahid Bedi on January 15 at 6.50 pm when unidentified miscreants hurled a hand grenade.According to reliable sources the incident had resulted out of the clashes between the NDFB and NDFB (cease fire ) groups.The incident has created sensation in the district.According to eye witnesses two cycle borne youths threw a chinese made hand grenade at the crowded spot killing one youth and injuring 13 others.Army and police had cordoned off the area but none could be arrested so far.Some of the injured were Bipul Pal,Riju Hazarika,Bikash Deka,Biju Sutradhar etc.The irate public destroyed the Udalguri Civil Hospital buildings on the plea that doctors were not present in time.Dr.S S Meenakshi Sundaram,DC Udalguri and Col.Y.Choudhuri Commanding Officer 315 Field Regiment (Kargil)told this correspondent that the situation was under control and the unruly mob wrere dispered.DC also Said that the seven critically injured persons were shifted to GMCH for further treatment.In the mean time Dr.Meenakkshi Sundaram,DC Udalguri along with Col.Y Choudhuri and A Tiwari,SP Udalguri had rushed to the spot for investigation.Condemning the act senior citizens of the district said that targetting innocent people would not serve any purpose.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Child scientist’s eco-camp & tracking on Indo-Bhutan jungles
A simple inaugural ceremony was held at Nonai Range Forest office in Khalingduar reserve Forest at 9.30 am It had been an excellent work done by the organizers for which children of all the six development blocks could arrive and depart home safe. District Aryabhatta Science Centre coordinator Jayanta Das in his welcome speech explained about the eco-camp cum tracking programme saying that such events would boost the morale of the children of the villages and would also motivate them to work for the conservation of nature and wild life. He thanked officers of Udalguri district administration, Divisional Forest Office, Dhansiri Division,Udalguri; 37 BN SSB and 315 Field regiment (Kargil) for sharing the day with the child scientists.Dr.SS Meenakshi Sundaram,DC,Udalguri in his inaugural speech thanked the child scientists for taking interest in science technology and conservation of nature and wild life. He said that district administration of Udalguri would arrange more such events for the children so as to create scientific temperament in them. Bankim Sarma,DFO, Dhansiri division, Udalguri also addressed the child scientists and the guides explaining the need for conservation of ecology.According to him plantation of more and more trees would only save thousands of species from micro organism to bigger animals. He gave in details of the Khalingduar Reserve Forest and its flora and fauna.
30 child scientists both boys and girls accompanied by the heads of the district administration, forest department, 37 BN SSB, 315 FD Regiment (Kargil),media persons and other dignitaries walked to Jalimukh the abode of Hornbills, situated well inside Bhutan. Tracking through the deep jungles far away from human habitation had been a never before experience for all the participants.A community feast was arranged for the participants on the bed of dry Nonai river at 2 pm followed by a thank giving ceremony where child scientists felicitated Dr. SS Meenekshi Sundaram,DC,Udalguri;Bankim Sarma,DFO, Udalguri; Indra Kalita SDO (S) Udalguri; Anthony Tamni, Commanding Officer,37 BN SSB and Col.Yogesh Choudhuri ,Commanding Officer,315 FD Regiment with a gamocha for arranging the eco-camp cum tracking for them.The closing ceremony was anchored by senior journalist and Hony. Wild life Warden Bhargab Kumar Das.DN Hazarika ,Circle Officer Tangla;Pranjal Das,Circle officer ,Mazbat; NB Wari,District Election Officer, Udalguri and journalist cum conservation activist Debanga Mahaliya also took part in the programme.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Two Assam child scientists win national laurels in Ahmedabad
Two Assam child scientists win national laurels in Ahmedabad
Two child scientists from Assam have won laurels in the recently concluded NCSC (National children’s Science Congress) session at Ahmedabad city. The child scientists from Assam namely Santana Bora and Jayashree Barua have been selected for the national panel of child scientists 2010. It needs mention that a group of 25 child scientists and 9 officials under the supervision of ASTEC (Assam Science Technology and Environment Council) Guwahati attended the national level session at Ahmedabad city from December 27 to 31.
Biman Chandra Barua, state coordinator ASTEC and K.M. Tamuli team coordinator informed that 557 nos of child scientists from different states of India presented projects on the focal theme “Planet Earth: explore care and share” ,out of which 25 projects had been selected for the national panel of 25 child scientists. Assam girl Santana Bora of Sonitpur presented a project on “Molasses from musa balbiciana”,( Bhimkalor Gur) while Jayashree Barua also from Sonitpur presented the project on “Egg shell :the golden waste” .Both the girl’s projects could draw special appreciation from media and noted scientists of the country during the National Children’s Science Congress/2009.
Two child scientists from Assam have won laurels in the recently concluded NCSC (National children’s Science Congress) session at Ahmedabad city. The child scientists from Assam namely Santana Bora and Jayashree Barua have been selected for the national panel of child scientists 2010. It needs mention that a group of 25 child scientists and 9 officials under the supervision of ASTEC (Assam Science Technology and Environment Council) Guwahati attended the national level session at Ahmedabad city from December 27 to 31.
Biman Chandra Barua, state coordinator ASTEC and K.M. Tamuli team coordinator informed that 557 nos of child scientists from different states of India presented projects on the focal theme “Planet Earth: explore care and share” ,out of which 25 projects had been selected for the national panel of 25 child scientists. Assam girl Santana Bora of Sonitpur presented a project on “Molasses from musa balbiciana”,( Bhimkalor Gur) while Jayashree Barua also from Sonitpur presented the project on “Egg shell :the golden waste” .Both the girl’s projects could draw special appreciation from media and noted scientists of the country during the National Children’s Science Congress/2009.
Udalguri district administration’s unique plan to popularize science among children.
Udalguri(India) district administration’s unique plan to popularize science among children.
In order to popularize science and technology among people of the district ,particularly among the students and children, Udalguri district administration has taken up a few unique schemes like arrangement of district level science meet; tracking in the Khalingduar Reserve Forest, introduction of district level excellence award for child scientists and display of best science models on Republic Day and Independence Day programmes at Udalguri every year. Talking to this correspondent Dr.S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Deputy Commissioner of the district said on December 22nd that the new schemes and awards would motivate students and children of the district to take interest in science and technology. He said that Udalguri district administration had been giving excellence awards to distinguished persons in the field of public service, public administration and public security since 2008, twice in a year ie on Independence Day and Republic Day. He said that another fourth category of excellence award for child scientists would be added to the existing scheme from 2010.The excellence award for child scientists would be awarded to the child of the district who would show excellence in the state or national level science competitions in the field of science, technology and conservation of nature and wildlife. According to the Deputy Commissioner ,a selection committee had been formed with DC Udalguri as the chairman; Indra Kalita SDO (S) Udalguri as Executive Chairman; Bhakta Chetri, Principal, Ramswarup Agarwalla Memorial English School as the Vice Chairman; Jayanta Kumar Das,District Coordinator NCSC Udalguri as member secretary; Nitu Deka (teacher) and Rabindra Rava (journalist) as members. The DC also said that district administration would sponsor a tracking expedition to Jalimukh in Khalingduar Reserve Forest,an enchanting place at the source of Nonoi river on Indi-Bhutan international border in January 2010, in association with forest, SSB and police .He further said that five students from each of the six development blocks of the district namely –Kalaigaon, Udalguri, Mazbat, Bhergaon,Khoirabari and Rowta would be selected on the basis of their performances in respective fields to take part in the tracking.
Another meeting of the district coordination committee of Aryabhatta Science Centres of the district was held at DC’s conference hall on December 22nd at 11 pm to discuss arrangement of the district level competitions on science based model, extempore speech and poster drawing competition. The meeting which was presided over by Mihir Barua, ADC Udalguri and Nodal Officer of the competition decided to arrange the district level science meet on January 28 2010 at Ramswarup A.M.E. School with day long programme. The meeting also decided to invite Dr.S.K.Choudhuri, Director of ASTEC, Guwahati to attend the programme as the chief guest. The meeting was attended by all the developmental block level coordinators of Aryabhatta Science Centres and District Education Officer Udalguri. The first and second position holders would participate in the state level competition to be held in the month of February or March 2010.
In order to popularize science and technology among people of the district ,particularly among the students and children, Udalguri district administration has taken up a few unique schemes like arrangement of district level science meet; tracking in the Khalingduar Reserve Forest, introduction of district level excellence award for child scientists and display of best science models on Republic Day and Independence Day programmes at Udalguri every year. Talking to this correspondent Dr.S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Deputy Commissioner of the district said on December 22nd that the new schemes and awards would motivate students and children of the district to take interest in science and technology. He said that Udalguri district administration had been giving excellence awards to distinguished persons in the field of public service, public administration and public security since 2008, twice in a year ie on Independence Day and Republic Day. He said that another fourth category of excellence award for child scientists would be added to the existing scheme from 2010.The excellence award for child scientists would be awarded to the child of the district who would show excellence in the state or national level science competitions in the field of science, technology and conservation of nature and wildlife. According to the Deputy Commissioner ,a selection committee had been formed with DC Udalguri as the chairman; Indra Kalita SDO (S) Udalguri as Executive Chairman; Bhakta Chetri, Principal, Ramswarup Agarwalla Memorial English School as the Vice Chairman; Jayanta Kumar Das,District Coordinator NCSC Udalguri as member secretary; Nitu Deka (teacher) and Rabindra Rava (journalist) as members. The DC also said that district administration would sponsor a tracking expedition to Jalimukh in Khalingduar Reserve Forest,an enchanting place at the source of Nonoi river on Indi-Bhutan international border in January 2010, in association with forest, SSB and police .He further said that five students from each of the six development blocks of the district namely –Kalaigaon, Udalguri, Mazbat, Bhergaon,Khoirabari and Rowta would be selected on the basis of their performances in respective fields to take part in the tracking.
Another meeting of the district coordination committee of Aryabhatta Science Centres of the district was held at DC’s conference hall on December 22nd at 11 pm to discuss arrangement of the district level competitions on science based model, extempore speech and poster drawing competition. The meeting which was presided over by Mihir Barua, ADC Udalguri and Nodal Officer of the competition decided to arrange the district level science meet on January 28 2010 at Ramswarup A.M.E. School with day long programme. The meeting also decided to invite Dr.S.K.Choudhuri, Director of ASTEC, Guwahati to attend the programme as the chief guest. The meeting was attended by all the developmental block level coordinators of Aryabhatta Science Centres and District Education Officer Udalguri. The first and second position holders would participate in the state level competition to be held in the month of February or March 2010.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)