New NIT to be set up in NE during 11th Plan

NEWMAI NEWS
SHILLONG, Sept 6 - The Department of Higher Education, Government of
India has proposed to establish a new National Institute of Technology
(NIT) under the 11th Plan period in NE, for which proposals have been
invited from these States. At present, there are two NITs at Silchar
and Agartala.

Further, two new Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs)
are proposed to be set up in the NE, out of the 20 new IIITs to be
established in the country on a PPP mode. New polytechnics are to be
set up in 63 districts in NE out of the 1,000 polytechnics to be
established in unserved and under-served districts in the country. The
revised scheme of continuation of Community Polytechnics during the
11th Plan was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
recently.

Oil workers in NE to go on strike
SHILLONG, SEPT 6:
Petrol pumps across the North-east would go dry from September 8 with
various petroleum unions deciding to go for 72-hour strike in support
of their charter of demands including pay-hike.
Hynniewtrep Petroleum Workers Union (HPWU) president Alistair N
Diengdoh said that the labourers of oil and gas tankers and petrol
pumps across the region will stay away from their duties to protest
the non-settlement of their six-point charter of demands.
The 72-hour strike will start at 0500 hours on September 8. Their
charter of demands include minimum monthly wage of Rs 10,000 to all
workers, payment of bonus and other allowances stopping harassment,
besides compensation to those suffering accidents and attacks by
antisocials.
"We had moved both Union Petroleum Ministry as well as authorities of
oil companies and submitted several memorandums since 2006 but to no
avail," Diengdoh rued.
In 2007, the Union Petroleum Ministry had directed the oil companies
to provide a reasonable hike in salary, housing and medical benefits
to the contractual workers, but these companies are yet to follow the
directives even as one and a half year have passed.
Over 90 per cent Oil India's blocks are scattered in the north eastern
states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.(NP)

Assam to promote hottest chilly in the world
GUWAHATI, SEPT 6:
After years of neglect, the state has finally decided to promote its
home-grown 'Bhot Jalakiya'(Capsicum chinese Jacq)- the hottest chilly
of the world.
This Assamese chilly is gaining popularity not only in the state but
all across the globe.
While BBC is doing a full length documentary, the culinary experts are
descending to Assam to taste it and the DRDO is examining its power to
use in some ammunitions.
According to UNI report, Assam Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani
Brahma instructed the Directorate of Horticulture & Food Processing,
Assam to promote this kind of chilly, initially in Golaghat & Baksa
districts of Assam, under Technology Mission for Horticultural
Development. In 2005, Paul Bosland proved what Indias Defence Research
Laboratory had done five years before- that the Assamese jolokia or
chilly is the hottest on earth with a rating of 1,001,304 Scoville
Heat Units (SHUs). Guinness Book of World Records accepted his
findings in 2007, replacing Red Savina Habanero- which was considered
the ultimate scorcher with 580,000 SHUs.
The real name, as people living in north of the Brahmaputra call it,
is Bhot Jolokia.
Bhot means of Bhotiya origin or something that has come from the hills
of adjoining Bhotan. On the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, this
chilly becomes Naga Jolokia believed to have originated from the hills
of Nagaland.
Bhot or Naga, no one disputes that this jolokia is the king of chillies.
Assam Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma yesterday appealed the
farming community of Assam to come forward for the expansion of the
cultivation of this chilli, for which the Directorate of Horticulture
& Food Processing, Assam is going to offer several incentives to the
concerned farmers. All together 300 ha of land will be earmarked for
the cultivation of Bhot Jalakiya, under this new initiative, Dr H
Barooah, Director, Horticulture & Food Processing, Assam said.
There are tremendous opportunities to earn money from its cultivation,
he added. Dr R C Das, Dr Lochan Saikia, Dr A K Bhattacharyya and Dr B
C Bora from Assam Agricultural University were present as resource
person in the workshop. Mr Gautom Goswami of ITC also expressed their
willingness to associate this innovative project. Mrigendra Kalita,
Agriculture Secretary, Assam was also present in the workshop as Guest
of Honour.(NP)