Joining the chorus of protests by media personalities against the directives towards three channels in India, Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) and Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) expressed serious concern over the development that started with the order from the Union information & broadcasting ministry (I&B) to take Hindi news channel ‘NDTV India’ and Assamese channel ‘News Time Assam’ off air for 24 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 01 hours on 9 November till 01 hrs of 10 November 2016.
One more channel named 'Careworld TV' faced the directive with longer period of blackout, as it will have to go off air for seven days starting from 9 November allegedly for telecasting objectionable content.
The directive came after an inter-ministerial committee set-up by I&B ministry had found the news channels were violating the program code, set under the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2015. According to the committee’s observation, NDTV in a live telecast revealed the crucial & strategically sensitive information when the terror attack on the Pathankot air base was being carried out. On the other hand, News Time Assam did more than one mistakes including the revelation of a minor domestic servant in an unlawful ambiance, use of defamatory words against women and telecast of gory visuals of dead bodies in few occasions.
Both EMFA and JFA argue that the entire news channels of the country should be brought under the purview of Press Council of India (PCI) with more power to the quasi-judicial body to deal with such situations. In need, the council can be named as Media Council of India (MCI), said a statement issued by the organizations to the media outlets.
“We also demand appropriate initiatives for the news channel employees for their due financial benefits in the line of Majithia Wage Board meant for the print media employees including the journalists. A separate wage board for the electronic media employees in India may also be considered,” added the statement.
23 Mar 2015 - 1:24pm | AT News
Kamakhya temple premises atop the beautiful Nilachal Hills will get a fresh look. Courtesy Anil Ambani. The country’s industrialist told chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday that he would begin the...
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Namrup: Despite an intensive counter insurgency operation, a section of ULFA-I rebels have been moving in Dibrugarh district unleashing the fear of yet another Kujupathar like gunbattle where a...
10 May 2015 - 5:13pm | AT News
As many as 35 girls have reached their parents in Tinsukia district a day after they were rescued just before taking to Kerala.Immediately after being rescued at the Margherita Railway Station on...
8 Jul 2016 - 6:54pm | AT News
Many organizations in Manipur have welcomed the Supreme Court ruling against the excessive use of army and para military forces in the counter insurgency operations.Taking to Assam Times over...
The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam.
This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher.
Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media
Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been...
Join Our Dedicated Volunteer Team!
Assam Times, a volunteer-run news platform established in 2007, is seeking talented individuals to join our team as English to Assamese volunteer translators.
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A native Assamese speaker with excellent fluency in written English?
Passionate about accurate and culturally sensitive translations?
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Translate a variety of news articles and content from English to Assamese, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
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Guwahati, September 18: Aaranyak, in partnership with the Namdapha Tiger Reserve Authority and supported by the Arcus Foundation, has initiated a groundbreaking Hoolock gibbon conservation education program in the fringe areas of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
This initiative, which commenced on August 22, is the first of its kind in the state and aims to create a community of young conservationists who can actively contribute to the protection of this endangered primate. The program has reached 17 schools in the Miao subdivision, covering students from upper primary to higher secondary levels.
The sessions, conducted by the Primate Research and...
Diets rich in ultra-processed foods have long been associated with a myriad of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death. However, the vast category of ultra-processed foods encompasses a wide range of products, from seemingly benign options like whole-grain bread and plant-based milk to more obvious culprits like hot dogs and sugary sodas.
A recent groundbreaking study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shed new light on the specific types of ultra-processed foods that pose the greatest risk to heart health. This comprehensive study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, analyzed data...
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros and diverse ecosystems, is at a critical crossroads. Known for its rich biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of local communities with nature, Kaziranga's landscape and social fabric are under threat. The Assam government's push to boost tourism by transferring land adjacent to the park to private hospitality industries has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities and the ecological future of the region.
The Push for Luxury Tourism
Today marks a significant step in the Assam government's tourism agenda, with the signing of another...
The mid-20th century in America was a time when smoking was as normal and ubiquitous as eating. Picture this: in 1956, the average American smoked about 4,000 cigarettes a year. That’s a half-pack a day, for everyone—men, women, and even some children were all puffing away, encouraged by a relentless media, celebrities, and even health professionals. Fast forward to 2019, and while smoking rates have plummeted, a new health crisis has taken its place—our diet.
Today, the leading cause of death and disability in the United States is not smoking; it's what we eat. The Global Burden of Disease Study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, identifies poor diet as the #1 cause of...
A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that he "will take sides" and "will not let Miya Muslims take over all of Assam," opposition leaders filed a police complaint on August 27 accusing him of promoting enmity between different religious and ethnic groups. The complaint was lodged at the Dispur police station by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and Assam Jatiya Parishad's Lurinjyoti Gogoi, representing the United Opposition Forum, a coalition of groups opposed to the BJP and its allies.
The complaint, supported by Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Congress...
During our school days, when the historic Assam agitation broke out, we used to go to Tihu town in western Assam for joining various protest demonstrations against the outsiders (read non-Assamese Indians) and the movement was initially known as ‘Bohiragata Kheda Andolan’ (literary meaning agitation to deport outsiders) to create a prosperous Assam for the indigenous population. Later it was redefined as the agitation against illegal migrants (read Bangladeshi/East Pakistani nationals) by the intellectuals and media barons in Guwahati, the virtual capital of northeast India. Simultaneously an armed movement also surfaced with an initial trigger from the economic domination of Hindi...
The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), a prominent national social organization representing Gorkhas across India, has expressed its gratitude towards the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for issuing a notification that resolves the longstanding NRC Biometrics-Aadhaar linkage issue. This development is expected to bring relief to nearly 9.35 lakh individuals in Assam, including over one lakh Gorkhas who have been affected by the issue.
Nanda Kirati Dewan, the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Assam State Committee, expressed appreciation for the MHA’s intervention. He noted that the BGP has been actively engaging with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)...
Guwahati: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Meitei-Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict, which began on May 3, 2023. Despite maintaining a stance of neutrality, the NSCN has been closely monitoring developments and is alarmed by the increasing violence, particularly against Christians.
In a press statement released today, the NSCN highlighted a disturbing trend of harassment and physical assaults against Christians by the militant group Arambai Tengol. The NSCN identified the group's strong convictions and extreme principles as the driving forces behind its radical socio-political reforms.
"The violent extremism followed by Arambai...
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