Current Affairs Assam – November 2017 e-Magazine
November 4
Assam University signs MoU with Shizouka University of Japan
In collaborative research, School of Life Sciences, Assam University, Silchar recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on academic cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture, Shizouka University of Japan.
The MoU was signed by Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar, Prof Dilip Chandra Nath and President of Shizouka University, Prof Kiyoshi Ishii.
Expressing happiness over the fruitful pursuit, Prof Dilip Chandra Nath said, “The door is open and this venture would develop the ongoing collaborative research work between both institutes.
Word of the Year 2017- “Fake News”
Fake news, a term popularised by U.S. President Donald Trump, has been named the word of the year by Collins dictionary due to its widespread use around the world.
The U.K.-based lexicographer found that the use of “fake news” registered a 365% rise in the last 12 months. ‘Fake news’ takes over from Brexit which was named the definitive word last year.
November 5
World’s first in situ wild muga sanctuary coming up at Golaghat
The government planning to set up the world’s first in situ wild muga sanctuary in Golaghat.
Around 41 species of wild silk moths have been identified in the Northeast. The largest share (above 90 per cent) of eri silk production of India is contributed from Northeast
India and it shares 77 per cent of the total non-mulberry raw silk produced in the country.
The Directorate of Sericulture and Central Silk Board are learnt to have got the clearance from the forest department for the unique project, aimed at future conservation of the threatened wild silk moths and muga as well as helping research.
World Tsunami Awareness Day observed on 5 November
The World Tsunami Awareness Day was observed across the world on 5 November. Theme for 2017 WTAD is ‘Reduce the Number of Affected People’.
The day is celebrated to spread awareness among people across the world in matters related to the dangers of tsunami.
Tsunamis are rare but they can affect a lot of people especially communities living in coastal areas. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake tsunami affected up to five million people in 15 countries. Tsunamis know no borders, making international cooperation key for deeper political and public understanding of risk reduction measures.
In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day to promote a global culture of tsunami awareness.
For the second year in a row, the World Tsunami Awareness Day will align with the International Day for Disaster Reduction and the “Sendai Seven Campaign” and will focus in 2017 on Target B of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which aims at reducing the number of affected people globally by disasters.
Mary Kom named Women’s Youth World Championships Ambassador
Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom has been named as the ambassador of the upcoming AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships.
The event, which is being hosted in Guwahati, Assam is scheduled to be held from November 19 to 26.
“It is an honour to have been chosen as Ambassador for the 2017 Women’s Youth World Championships and be a part of the prestigious competition with it held in India for the first time,” the 34-year-old Manipuri, who is currently in Vietnam for the Asian Championships, was quoted as saying by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
November 6
108 Mrityunjoy Service completes 9 years in State
108 Mrityunjoy Service completed nine years of its emergency life-saving services in the State. During the period, it received 46,93,408 emergency calls and attended to 30,39,113, saving in the process 1,40,192 lives.
It also assisted in 35,888 deliveries besides handling 12,04,298 pregnancy cases. It attended to 1,77,119 road traffic accident cases.
GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI) was launched in April 2005 to provide integrated emergency response services in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode with a vision to provide leadership to save one million lives per annum nationally and establish it as a premier research and training institute in emergency management in PPP framework.
This service was made available to the people of Assam, following the signing of an MoU between the Government of Assam and GKV-EMRI on July 8, 2008.
It has generated ample opportunities for accessibility and timely emergency service in an organised way and saved thousands of lives in the State.
647 Schemes rolled out for Development of Majuli
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal rolled out 647 schemes entailing an investment of Rs 24.57 crore for development of the world’s largest river island Majuli.
Out of these, 448 schemes under MGNREGA involved Rs 21.90 crore and 199 schemes under 14th Finance Commission have an outlay of Rs 2.67 crore, it added.
Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana launched to Promote Philately
Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately.
Under the scheme of SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby), it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby. The amount of Scholarship will be Rs. 6000/- per annum @ Rs. 500/- per month.
