The Guwahati based journalist and a regular contributor to 'Assam Times', Nava Thakuria has been awarded with the first media fellowship on refugee issues sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES). The Fellowship with the theme, 'The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour', with a focus on Protection and Durable Solutions for the Chin ethnic group from Western Myanmar, which lives in challenging conditions in the Northeast as well as in New Delhi starts from 1 March to 31 May.
The announcement was made by a Committee comprising Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES Managing Trustee, journalist and editor, Ms. Pamela Philipose, Independent Journalist and Ms. Nayana Bose of the UNHCR on February 15 last. The awardee Mr Thakuria has written extensively on issues related to Burma (Myanmar). Thakuria is a regular contributor to many acclaimed newspaper and portals based in Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Seoul, London and California and his special areas of interest include socio-political developments in Northeast India with Burma, Bhutan and Bangladesh
It may be mentioned that Mizoram, a Burma bordering Northeast Indian state gives shelter to nearly 40,000 Chin refugees. Those Burmese citizens fled their country to get rid of the atrocities of the present regime named State Peace and Development Council. Led by the Senior General Than Shwe, the SPDC is identified as one of the worst human rights violators in the globe.
The refugees started fleeing Burma after the 1988 uprising for restoration of democracy in the land of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Thousand of Burmese have already sacrificed their precious lives supporting the pro-democracy movement led by the Great Lady. Many of them left Burma to live an exile live in its neighbouring Thailand, India, Bangladesh and many other countries around the globe.
"The effort is to build capacity and better understanding among journalists interested in refugee issues, especially at the middle-level, but also to publish their findings and observations extensively in the Indian media," said Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee of C-NES. It is an opportunity for the journalist to look at issues relating to refugee movements into the country, the condition of refugees, the problems of mixed migration (refugee movements combined with economic/environmental international migrants).
Carol Batchelor, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India, while mentioning the fellowship to study the refugee issue said, "It is hoped that through this opportunity for an in-depth review of refugee issues, journalists will be strengthened in their efforts to inform public opinion." There are two other fellowships, applications for which are welcome, one on "The need for a refugee specific legislation in India" (to be announced in May 2008) and another on Sri Lankan refugees (to be announced in August 2008). The programme is aimed to research and write on the issue comprising the protection and durable solution of the refugee problem.
1 May 2014 - 10:08am | Jintu Sarma
A two days long Indian Classical Dancing festival called Nrityakalpa’14 held on April 26-27 at Bann Theatre, Tezpur. The event was organised by Saptaswa. Since the birth of...
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Hardly a week after his patch-up with chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma is desperately trying to refurbish his image with a slew of measures to jack up the ruling party.Dr Sarma who along with Anjan Dutta met Gogoi at his Koinadhara residence on Wednesday morning told reporters that he had suggested some measures which he thinks would help the party retain power in Dispur. The chief minister is understood to have heard Dr Sarma patiently and assured him of the steps to implement the suggestions. Notably, Assam Times broke the story of how the duo mended the differences at the initiative of a senior Guwahati based journalist a couple of days back. The former...
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The enforcement directorate probing Sudipto Sen's financial transaction will grill Anjan Dutta again to ascertain his role in the multi crore scam. ED has asked the MLA and APCC president to appear in the Kolkata based office on Monday. Earlier on Thursday he was grilled before collecting his banking details from Chandmari and Dispur SBI branches. The interrogation is crucial this time as Dutta would have to establish his purely business deal with the Sharadha boss.
A vigil security has been beefed up in BTAD region during counting of votes tomorrow and victory rally has also been banned after declaration of results to prevent unwanted incidents in Kokrajhar.Thaneswar Malakar,Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar addressing the media persons at DC office conference hall today said that the district administration has geared up to maintain peace and harmony during counting of votes with deployment of security arrangements.He said that district administration ahs imposed 144 crpc in view of maitaining law and order in the district and totally restricted victory rally and any procession after declaration of results till April 15 in the district.He said that the...
Dozens of sitting Congress MLAs are likley to stay out of the poll contest early next year. The ruling party is unlikely to field them again. But the party leadership are trying to call it their reluctance.Sources told Assam Times that these include Sarat Bortkotoky, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Abdul Muhib Majumdar, Pranab Gogoi and Rameshwar Dhanowar. The fate of chief minister Tarun Gogoi depends on the party high command.When the secret decision went open secret, APCC president Anjan Dutta told reporters on Tuesday that around 7 MLAs are reluctant to contest in the elections next year.
If spring comes can the Bohag Bihu stay far behind? Here comes the Bihu. Tender leaves on the trees, season flowers in full bloom, chirping of birds seem to have dressed the entire state afresh. Armed with traditional dhul, pepa, gogona and flute, the youths are busy with rehearsal for bihu huchori. The girls in the rural areas are busy with weaving bihuwans for their near and dear ones. The women in these areas are concentrating on delicacies to be served on the much vaunted occasion.Huge pandels are seen in the urban areas hardly two weeks before the festival of merrymaking. Organizers are making beeline on the doors of the performing artists seeking engagements on the occasion.The...
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Adoor Gopalakrishnan stressed need to uplift the Assamese cinema sector with more investment. Talking to the reporters at a function organized to honour at the Guwahati Press Club on Monday, the veteran film maker said the government must come forward with good financial assistance to revive the infrastructure.The Dadasaheb Phalke award winning filmmaker said that television has not lived up to the expectation and that it only is interested in commercial cinema.
For the first time Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) is hosting a meeting of Vice Chancellors and/or their representatives, Friday 27 March. Over 70 Vice Chancellors or representatives from West Bengal and Northeast India are participating in the meeting organised by NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) at ADBU Azara campus. Joining the meeting at the same venue are also some 100 Directors of AICTE approved technical institutions with experts from University Grants Commission and AICTE.The participants are deliberating upon issues related to the implementation of Choice Based Credit System and credit framework for skill-based vocational courses to be implemented in the upcoming...
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