Northeast Diary 14-09-2005

New dept for three districts

A review meeting of the Bodoland Territorial Council, held at Dispur on Tuesday, discussed creating a separate District Rural Development Agency department in the three newly-created districts of Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. Top officials from both central and state governments and the BTC executive members and officials participated.

Students? call

The Nagaland College Student?s Union has called a statewide bandh on Friday demanding disbursement of post-matric scholarships. The union alleged that the scholarships had not been disbursed for a long time.

Bandh flops

The 48-hour Lower Assam bandh called by Koch Rajbangshi Rhino Force in protest against the nomination of Niren Roy to the BTC failed to evoke any response in the BTC area. The sit-in demonstration by Gorkha students in front of the BTC office at Kokrajhar against nomination of Madhav Karki also failed as the administration prevented them at various points.

Nehu V-C

The Union ministry of human resources development has appointed Prof. Pramod Tandon as the vice-chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (Nehu).

Silchar fest

Barak Utsav will be held at Silchar from November 9-11. The three-day festival will include exhibitions, cultural shows and traditional sports. The festival was earlier scheduled to be held from October 21-23.

Duliajan expo

The third Duliajan Expo is being organised by the Duliajan Football Academy at Bihutali from September 16-25.

Encephalitis

The Meghalaya government has directed the health department to take precautionary steps to prevent the spread of Japanese encephalitis. Health minister S. Nongrum said an action plan is being prepared as there were chances of the disease spreading.

Road repairs

Altogether 23 roads in Assam?s Karbi Anglong district will be renovated under the Prime Minister?s Gram Sadak Yojana scheme shortly.

Thumbs Up

To Dimapur-based Naga poet Noel Manuel for being nominated as co-ordinator, Northeast region, by the Poetry Society (India) for a period of five years with effect from September 1, 2005