ASSAM

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said theCentreand the are trying to find a “middle path” to carry forward dialogue with Ulfa (I) led by Paresh Baruah, which wants talks on its Sovereignty demand. He, however, added that the whole process will take time.

The discussions were held primarily to give the final shape to a peace accord with rebels ofKarbi Anglongdistrict of the state.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified seven black spots that have taken many lives in road accidents over the years inAssam, from central to western part of the state. Frequent accidents for successive years has compelled NHAI to give refurbishment to ease flow of traffic in these black spots to avert road accidents.
According to the ministry of road transports definition, a stretch of road is tagged as a black spot if five road accidents or 10 fatalities are reported for consecutive three years in a stretch of 500 metres.

Scattered from Nagaon district in central Assam to Bongaigaon in lower Assam, these seven black spots Tihujunction, Society Chowk Rangia, Changsari-Madanpur stretch, Dabaka junction,Kishanbazar,Manikpurand Sundari will soon witness infrastructure revamp as a long-term measure.

The Assam government has decided to re-introduce free food and drinking water for Covid patients at government hospitals and Covid care centres.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said committees are also being set up with members of civil Society to enforce the mandatory 7-day Home quarantine for those who are returning home by air and train and have tested negative for Covid on arrival. We have fixed Rs 300 for each patient daily and deputy commissioners have been asked to provide each patient in government hospitals and Covid care centres with breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner and bottle of water. There will also be a canteen in the Covid care centre premises where patients can buy additional items on their own, Sarma said.

A huge rally took place at Tangla High School where he spoke about various schemes to be provided to the people.

While addressing the gathering CM Sarma mentioned that currently 20 lakh families are availing benefits through the Arunodoi scheme and that the amount will be increased to Rs.1400. Apart from Arunodoi scheme ration cards will be given to 60 lakh new beneficiaries.

“From now on those with ration cards will get free treatment of Rs 5 lakh per annum in the hospital,” CM stated.

Furthermore, each of the SHGs members will receive Rs 1000 for training to start their own business. Then each will be given Rs 10,000 each in a private bank account.

Moreover, a total of Rs 3000 crore will be given to Women of SHGs. Loans for microfinance will also be repaid.

TheCacharDistrict Administration has announced incentives for informers on child marriage and scholarships for rescued children.

The measures were announced during a programme organised by the district child protection unit, Cachar, in collaboration withState Child Protection Society, Assam, under the aegis of the administration on Friday to mark the 8th annual child protection day.

Cachar deputy commissionerKeerthi Jallistated that those who provide information regarding child-related problems in the district will be given Rs 1,000. She also announced fixed deposits and scholarships for the children, so that they can utilise the amount for further Education after they attain 18 years.

Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty promised to set up a shelter Home for children and announced one-time financial assistance of Rs 20,000 toNibedita Nari Sangstha, an NGO, on the occasion. In addition, he also promised to donate a vehicle for the prevention of human trafficking.

Assam has seen a steep (34% ) decline in maternal deaths compared to last year, while child deaths in the state have gone down by 13%, theAssam National Health Mission(NHM) said.

The number of maternal death cases in 2022-23 (May-February) was 448 against 680 in the corresponding period of 2021-22, showing a decline of 232 deaths. The number of child death cases in 2022-23 (May-February) has been reported as 5,805, while the corresponding figure was 6,721 in 2021-22 (May-February), a decline of 916 deaths or 13.6%.

According to the Registrar General of India’s ‘Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality’ for the period 2018 to 2020 released last year, Assam recorded 195 deaths per lakh live births, though it was an improvement from the previous figure of 215 in the period 2016 to 2018. Nationally, there has been a significant decline in theMMRfrom 130 in 2014-16 to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20. In 2005, Assam’s MMR was 480 per one lakh live births.
Assam’s infant mortality rate (IMR) was 36 deaths per 1,000 live births as against the national Average of 28, as per theSample Registration System Statistical Report2020 published last year.

Assamis reeling under a rise in the number ofchild marriagesdespite aprohibition lawso much so that 32 girls among every 100 in the state in the 20-24 age bracket were under 18 years at the time of their marriages and 12 among every 100 such child brides were either pregnant or have already become mothers, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-21.

According to NFHS-5, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura top the list of child marriages with more than 40% of Women aged 20-24 years married below 18. Five other states – Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and saw more than 30% child marriages in the said period.

The Percentage of child brides in the same age cohort in the state as recorded in NFHS-4 for 2015-16 was one per cent lower, but the percentage of child brides who were pregnant or mothers was one per cent higher than that recorded in the last survey.

While child marriages are on the rise in Assam, nationally this social menace has reduced from 47 in 2005-06 to 26 in 2015-16, registering a decline of 21% points during the decade. During 2019-21, it declined further by 3% points to reach 23%, against Assam’s 32%.

Percentage of women in the country aged 20 to 24 years, who were married before 18 years of age, was 48 among the Hindus in 2005-06, which was one per cent higher than Muslims. But during 2019-21, the percentage was three notches higher for the Muslims (26) than the Hindus. The percentage for Christians declined from 26 in 2006-06 to 15 in 2019-21.

The Centre, in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha in 2020 said the practice of child marriages is largely due to the prevailing social customs, tradition, illiteracy, POVERTY, low status of women in Society and lack of awareness.

Manohari Gold’, produced by Manohari Tea Estate, had sold for Rs 99,999 at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) on December 14 last year. This is the highest auction price fetched in tea selling and buying in the country so far, with Sourabh Tea Traders procuring the kilogram of the tea that was put for auction. Manohari Gold Tea had previously sold for Rs 50,000 per kg at the GTAC auction in July 2019, which was the highest auction value at that time. Gold Tea from the same estate was auctioned for Rs 39,001 per kg on July 24, 2018, at the GTAC, which was a record price then.

At least 1,345 UCs amounting to Rs 7,197.84 crore are due for the 2018-19 fiscal, while 24 such documents worth Rs 1,607.23 crore in 2016-17 have not been submitted, according to the report which was tabled in the assembly on Friday. Utilisation Certificates of Rs 3,494.38 crore grants paid up to the financial year 2018-19 are pending from the Health department, followed by the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes with UCs worth Rs 2,403.51 crore.