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| A Cotton College hostel kitchen. File picture |
I felt sorry to read that boarders of Cotton College had threatened to hit the streets if Dispur did not take immediate steps to improve the “sub-human” condition of hostels at the premiere college.
Being a former Cottonian, I know how important hostel life is.
A number of popular personalities of Assam, including Asam Sahitya Sabha president Kanak Sen Deka, power minister Pradyut Bordoloi, author Yese Daraji Thangsi and health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma began their careers and honed their leadership skills at the Cotton College hostel.
The poor state of the college hostel is forcing parents to shift their wards to private hostels, which charge exorbitantly.
Even guardians who cannot afford the private hostels are cutting costs elsewhere to be able to keep their children away from the college hostels.
The state government, by not allotting enough funds to the Cotton hostel, is only encouraging the growth of private boarding houses.I sincerely appeal to the state government to create better infrastructure at all Cotton College hostels to help nurture future talent.
Prasanta Hazarika
Panbazar, Guwahati
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| Run out of space |
I read with utter disbelief the news of a herd of elephants killing an armyman at Mariani in Jorhat district. It only goes to show how we are encroaching upon their space.
The army camp is located very close to the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. The movement of men and materials will naturally cause irritation for the animals.
I wish to urge the powers that be to withdraw the army camp from the area immediately to an alternative location for lasting peace of both the men in uniform and our friends from the animal kingdom. Settlers on the fringes of forests should also be rehabilitated elsewhere.Let “live and let live” be the mantra for a happy and meaningful co-existence.
Anup Kurmi
Jorhat
