NORTH EAST NEWS BULLETIN
DATED:-11/01/2013
HEADLINES
1. Indian Council of Agricultural Research chief calls for reaching out
to far-flung villages across the North East Region.
2. Northeastern states to benefit from declaration of Lakhipur-Bhanga
stretch of the Barak River as National Waterway.
3. Two day North East Business Summit takes up crucial issues
pertaining to Northeast’s development.
4. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister reiterates commitment to improve
government school’s infrastructure.
5. Northeastern states to join country in celebration  of 150
th
anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
6. Two injured in leopard attack in Assam
 
NEWS IN ORDER
ICAR
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) North Eastern
Region Director S V Ngachan has said that use of core areas of farming
systems in the North East is still limited to certain parts and there was need
for an effective extension mechanism to reach out to far-flung villages
across the region. Speaking at the '38th Foundation Day' of ICAR
Research Complex for North East Region at Umiam, Dr. Ngachan said that
ICAR is advancing fast in core areas of farming systems in the entire North
East region. Director of Horticulture, Daniel Ingty who was the chief guest
at the function congratulated the farmers for their efforts in the march
towards self-sufficiency in food. Mr. Ingty said that ICAR and state line
departments are consistently concerned for farmers' welfare, and as a team
were ready to help regional farmers to do their best to improve their
livelihoods.  A farmers-scientists interaction session was organised to
exchange farmers' experiences with scientists.    
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LEOPARD
In Assam, two persons were seriously injured when a stray leopard
attacked them at an agriculture field in Sibsagar district. Officials said the
incident took place at Garhali area near Nazira town. The leopard came
out of a nearby forests and attacked cattle-heads in the field. When people
came out to chase it away, the leopard attacked two persons, Nripen Gogoi
and Boli Borhogain. The leopard later fled to the forests. Forestdepartment officials rushed to the spot and efforts are on to trap the
animal. Both the injured have been admitted to the Nazira Civil Hospital.
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SCHOOLS::
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has reiterated his
government’s commitment to improve the existing infrastructure of all
government schools in the state with state-of-the-art technology. Mr. Tuki
said that most of the government schools in the state are functioning with
the infrastructure of the early sixties and the state government is
committed to develop the infrastructures in all government-run schools
with concrete buildings in the years to come. The chief minister who is
currently on a whirlwind visit to West Siang district, while gracing the
annual day of the Siyom Army public School yesterday lauded the Army
for coming up for the cause of civilian to start school that impart quality
education for the state in general and the district in particular.
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VIVEKANANDA
A year-long programme would be organised in Assam along with the rest
of the country to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
A cultural procession would be taken out tomorrow in Guwahati which will
be attended among others by Pro-Vice Chancellor of  Tezpur University
and Barpeta Sattra's head Bashishtha Dev Sarmah. Convenor of Swami
Vivekananda's 150th Birth Anniversary Committee Siddhartha Dev
Sarmah said that several programmes have been chalked out at both the
national and state level to take his message to every home in the country. In
Meghalaya, the celebration of the 150
th
 anniversary will be marked by a
cultural procession to be taken out today from Ramakrishna Mission
Vivekananda Cultural Centre (RKMVCC), Quinton Road. A day long
special programme will be held tomorrow, on account of National Youth
Day where Meghalaya governor R.S. Mooshahary has consented to be the
Chief Guest.
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WATERWAY
The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament
for declaring Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of the Barak  River as a National
Waterway.   The Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh also gave its approval for preparation of  projects/schemes for
development of infrastructure  facilities on this 121-km stretch of the river
at an  estimated cost of  123 crore rupees  with implementation in  twophases. The project will be implemented by the Inland Waterways
Authority of India. Declaring Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of the Barak River
as National Waterway will result in unified development of the waterways
for shipping and navigation and transportation of cargo to the North
Eastern states of India.
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SUMMIT
The two day 8
th
 North East Business Summit organized by the Indian
Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was concluded yesterday in Guwahati with
many sessions held on critical sectors and issues including infrastructure &
connectivity through PPPs, Border trade and Financial Inclusion etc.
Delivering the keynote address at the Summit, the Advisor to the Prime
Minister, Sam Pitroda said that North East is an important part of the
country, which deserves more importance. Mr. Pitroda said the NE states
should focus on three initiatives for improvement – infrastructure,
information system & innovation. Stating that the NE states have human
capacity and potential, Mr. Pitroda said that the northeastern states should
take more responsibility and initiative, demand more and do more.