After being released on bail, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Mahbubul Haque, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), at the Chief Minister's residence. This was the first meeting of Sangma after his release from custody. During their meeting, it is reported that the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, discussed the use of unethical methods in examinations.
Following the meeting, Haque described the discussion as "important and insightful," noting that the Chief Minister had provided valuable advice. After spending nearly a month in custody, Haque expressed his intention to focus on the education sector at USTM. He emphasized that USTM is one of the top 200 universities in India and praised its success in maintaining excellence, commitment, and high standards in education.
Haque highlighted the significance of USTM receiving 'A' grade accreditation, calling it a major achievement, particularly for an institution in Northeast India. This recognition reflects the quality of education and institutional integrity at USTM. Haque also expressed his desire to expand USTM's reach beyond India, particularly targeting Southeast Asian countries, in line with the Indian government's Act East Policy, which aims to enhance India's relationships with countries in the region. He envisioned USTM becoming a world-class institution by 2030, with students from Southeast Asia being involved in its programs.
Given the geographical location of Northeast India, Haque emphasized that USTM’s strategic position could act as an academic bridge between India and neighboring East Asian countries. This geographic advantage could make USTM a key player in strengthening educational ties in the region.
In an effort to cultivate a deeper understanding of nature and sustainability among children, WWF-India launched its whole school programme, Ek Prithvi, in 2016. Since its inception, the programme has empowered over 145,200 students in 11 states by building environmental awareness, knowledge, and skills, and enabling action for conservation. Amid the pandemic, the programme went digital with the "One Earth One Home" initiative, reaching millions of students across 16 states and union territories in 10 languages, including all districts of Assam.
WWF-India's Assam chapter commenced the Ek Prithvi programme in 2019, partnering with the SCERT, Government of Assam, to launch the programme in...
Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood attended the closing ceremony of the Bodoland International Knowledge Festival in Kokrajhar, Assam on Thursday, where he spoke about his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they changed his outlook on life. Sood, who is known for his efforts to help migrant workers during the pandemic, stated that being able to bring positive change to people's lives is far more rewarding than being part of a successful film or receiving awards. He shared that he has worked in over 100 films in different languages but the pandemic made him realize that success and happiness come from helping others.
Sood also recounted his relationship with...
This report iSiliguri: In a solemn ceremony held at Salesian College Siliguri, North Bengal received its first Psychology Lab, Wellness Studio and Wellness Woods on 10th February 2023.
Located in Taverna Block of Salesian College, Psychology Lab is a facility for research, psychological testing and diagnostics. Wellness studio is a counseling centre opened to both students and anyone who requires wellness therapy.
The Psychology department at Salesian College, started in 2012, is the only College under North Bengal University’s 64 affiliate colleges, offering degree courses in Psychology both in the Undergraduate and Graduate level.
“The Psychological Lab and Wellness...
The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Marigaon district is known for its high density of one-horned rhinoceros and is also an important habitat for various bird species. The Guwahati Wildlife Division of the Assam Forest Department and biodiversity conservation organization Aaranyak recently conducted the third annual waterbird census at the sanctuary.
With active participation from a range of individuals and organizations, the census recorded 56 species of waterbirds with a total count of nearly 8,200 individuals, including both migratory and resident birds. Over 30 people, including forest department staff, Aaranyak members, and volunteers, took part in the census.
The main...
The Kokrajhar LitFest, a literary festival organized by the government of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam, India, concluded on Sunday with a valedictory ceremony at the Bodofa Cultural Complex. The festival, which was held over three days, featured prominent poets and writers from various languages and focused on promoting peace and harmony through literature. The theme of this year's event was "literature for peace and harmony," and it included discussions on various topics such as poetry, Aijwfwrni Garang, and Angw Alap. The valedictory ceremony was presided over by Prof Anil Boro, chairman of the organizing committee, and featured Biswajit Daimary, Speaker of the Assam...
The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear cases 562/2012, 876/2014, 311/2015, and 68/2016, brought by the Asom Samyukta Mahasangh of Assam, represented by Motiur Rahman and 102 Khilonjiya tribal organizations, against the Government of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Election Commission, the Registrar General of India, the Government of Assam, and the All Assam Students' Union. The cases were previously heard by two-judge benches of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Ranjan Gogoi in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, but were referred to a five-judge Constitution bench for final trial because the defendants were unable to provide sufficient...
Dibrugarh: Prof. Chandan Kumar Sharma from Tezpur University hosted the Northeast release of Yale University Press' award-winning Genetically Modified Democracy at Dibrugarh University on Friday. The book release was part of a three-day workshop called Sustainable Futures: Agriculture, Ecology and Conservation in Northeast India. It took place on December 14-16 in Guwahati and Dibrugarh University.
Dr. Aniket Aga is an associate professor of environmental studies at Ashoka University. His research interests are in science and technology studies, democratic politics, and agrarian studies. He works on questions of environmental justice, food democracy, and sustainable agriculture. The...
At the Sanctuary Wildlife Awards ceremony in Mumbai last night, environmentalist Rituraj Phukan was honoured with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award. The Nagaon based Climate Reality Leader is a renowned environmental writer, adventurer and conservationist who has represented the region and country in numerous global climate change events.
The loudest applause of the night was for 23 year old Munmuni Payeng, who won the Young Naturalist Award for her work with grassroots communities. It must be mentioned that she is the daughter of Padma Shree Jadav Payeng, famous as the Forest Man of India.
Eminent conservation scientist Dr. Vibhu Prakash, whose is known for his pioneering work...
Arvind Ojha was an experimentalist choosing to dedicate his life to social changemaking through education, working with children, making institutions and keeping people and organisations together. Someone very forthcoming to dialogue and collaborate with youth. Perhaps something that kept him innovating with community for over 40 years in social sector.
He was an artist, storyteller and a social changemaker. In his early years he wrote extensively. Prose and poetry were his forms of storytelling. He used camera to capture his times and stories, principally focusing on desert.
Later years, he committed to working with communities of Thar desert in the remote places and contexts. His...
Guwahati: The main petitioner in the Supreme Court of India with the demand to update the 1951 National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has lodged a police complaint against information technology firm Wipro alleging the misappropriation of a huge amount of public money in process.
Assam Public Works (APW), which continues raising voices against the ethnic militant outfits along with religious terrorists and Illegal migrants in the region, filed a first information report at Paltanbazar PS, Guwahati- 781024 on Friday, where the influential civil rights group has made the NRC Directorate also a party.
The non-government organisation, which has also been working for the...
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