ASSAM

The Assam state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed deep concern at the reported instances of inappropriate or exorbitant billing by a few private Health care establishments during the Covid crisis.

The medicos body is mulling over the idea of developing a Network so that Covid patients with minor issues could be managed in smaller Nursing homes and in case of deterioration or serious cases, could be transferred to bigger hospitals with better in handling the critically ill. The IMA has also urged upon the State Government to help the economically weaker section in getting Covid care in private facilities.

The Assam government informed the assembly that Mukroh village is part of the state’s territory and is inWestKarbi Anglong district.
The village that lies along the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border became the bone of contention for both the states after a clash betweenMeghalayavillagers and a joint team of state Police and forest personnel last November resulting in the death of five villagers and a forest guard.

Replying to a query on how Assam has responded to Meghalaya’s claim over Mukroh, chief ministerHimanta Biswa Sarmain a written reply stated, “The subject is being reviewed at different levels.”

CRPFdeputy inspector general (DIG) (Silchar Range) ShahnawazKhanhas claimed that a peaceful has been prevailing along the Assam-Mizoram border areas inCachardistrict after the forces jawans were deployed last year as per the Centres instructions

Khan, who attended an event at Lailapur CRPF camp in Cachar district nearMizoramborder on Friday, said a miasma of fear and panic hovered for many days in the area after sevenAssampolicemen were killed on July 26 last year, but the situation now is normal. Peace was restored after CRPF personnel were deployed following that incident as per the instructions of the central government, he said.

The Assam cabinet gave its go-ahead to the Police to continue the crackdown on child marriages, but decided to form a cabinet sub-committee for exploring ways to rehabilitate the victim girls.

The committee will submit a report, based on which the will take steps on rehabilitation of such victims.

The sub-committee comprises Health minister Keshab Mahanta, Education minister Ranoj Pegu and finance minister Ajanta Neog.

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport inAssam‘s Guwahati, the biggest airport in the northeast, has won The Voice of the Customer award from the Council International(ACI).

The airport was awarded for demonstrating relentless efforts in gathering passenger feedback on customer needs in 2021 and providing the best-in-class travel experience.
“This initiative recognizes airports that continued to prioritize their customers and remained committed to ensuring that their voice was heard during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in 2021,” said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general of ACI World in a letter toRajeev Kumar Jain, CEO Airports,Adani.

The maintenance of the LGBI Airport is being done by Adani Airport Holding Limited (AAHL) since last year.

A solution to the hawkers issue in the city seems to be shrouded in uncertainty as urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal said there is no land to create specific vending zones inside the densely populated city.

He said vending zones can be created on the outskirts of the city. Will the street vendors go there? Definitely not. The matter is under consideration. We have to find a middle path to solve the issue, he added.

Creation of vending zones for hawkers and a survey of such traders in the city have been a long-pending demand of the All Assam Street Vendors Association (AASVA).

To support and strengthen the financing ecosystem/mechanisms in the agricultural domain of the State APART has established the first of its kind initiative, the Assam AgriFin “Xamahar”. Xamahar is a competitive funding mechanism for supporting innovative approaches to deliver financial Services, at a scale in the agribusiness sector in the state of Assam. This fund has been conceptualised by the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), a -financed project of the Assam Government under ARIAS Society.

Through this initiative, the project intends to partner with select 8 to 12 sub-projects from the financial services sector directly benefiting 125,000 beneficiaries of which 30% will be Women.

Assam Chief MinisterHimanta Biswa Sarmaon Sunday asserted that the Rs 1,000 crore-Assam Skill University will upskill youths of Northeast. Performing ‘bhumi pujan’ for the institute at Darrang district headquarters Mangaldai, around 70 km from Guwahati, Sarma said that the institute will harness the demographic dividend of Assam, which has a very young Population.

“The Rs 1,000-crore institute will have multiple schools and centres of excellence that will play a huge role in upskilling the youths in Northeast. The university will have various campuses across Assam,” he said.

Sarma said a target has been set to complete the construction of the entire campus by August 2025 but an interim complex is expected to start functioning from 2024 itself.

The skill university, first-of-its-kind in Assam and third such institute in the country, will impart Education for Skill development in different sectors such as and innovation, life skills and languages, and design and creativity, through its various schools and courses.

It is being partially funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Faced with an uncertain future in view of the prevailing Covid-19 in the state, 30 out of 35 mobiletheatregroups have decided not to stage plays for another year despite the Health departments nod to begin rehearsals.

Four theatre groups registered under the association Abahan, Itihax, Bhagyadebi and Nayantora, and one theatre group outside the association Udayan have decided to take a chance, Banking on the government allowing fully vaccinated people to attend the shows.

Usually, the pre-production work of mobile theatre groups begin in May and June. Rehearsals of the plays start in July and the groups finally go for shows from September and the journey ends in April next year.
The budget of a mobile theatre group for a year ranges from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore.