NEW DELHI, Dec 21 ? The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an assistance of $ 150 million to Assam for managing its fiscal and revenue deficits. Based on the progress of the first programme, the ADB would consider a second loan of $ 100 million for ?deeper fiscal consolidation and governance reforms? over two years starting from December 2007.

?To successfully fulfill its development objectives, including growth and poverty reduction, the Assam State Government must address its fiscal imbalances and enhance governance,? ADB senior governance specialist Arjun Goswami said in a statement...

NEW DELHI, Dec 21 ? United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa today informed noted litterateur Dr Mamoni Roisom Goswami through an e-mailed letter that ULFA C-in-C Paresh Baruah was now out of danger.

Baruah, whose health condition has been creating confusion here following the e-mailed statement of Rajkhowa a few days back that he was ill, is now in bed rest after the successful ?surgery? he underwent, said the ULFA chairman. Baruah will have to be in bed rest for a few weeks, Rajkhowa said in his letter to Dr Goswami. He also said that the information passed on by...

SHILLONG, Dec 20 ? Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang today said the state was following the guidelines and directives of the Planning Commission since it did not frame a ?consolidated? economic policy of its own. Although there was no economic policy framed by the state, the ?guidelines and directives? of the Planning Commission in respect of sectoral allocation were being followed and quarterly reports, review meetings held to prepare utilisation certificiates to pursue the economic goal, Lapang said in the assembly during question hour.

The Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC)...

GUWAHATI, Dec 20 ? The competence of the British engineers was such that the river Kopili remained a friend for the people of the two districts of Morigaon and Nagaon for about a century despite human interference in the realm of nature. But the expertise of the engineers under the post-independent system has reduced the symbiotic relation between the river and the people into a myth.

This will be preserved by the people in their memories in the shapes of lullabies and folk-tales. This is the feeling dominating the popular psyche in these two districts nowadays. With the worst-ever havoc of...

SHILLONG, Dec 20 ? Thirty-two years after the creation of the hill State of Meghalaya, the languages spoken by the major tribes in the State, viz, Khasi and Garo, are poised to be recognized as associate official languages along with English language. Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr DD Lapang today introduced the Meghalaya State Language Bill, 2004, in the State Assembly today to fulfil the long-pending wishes of the people of the State to give the rightful status to Khasi and Garo languages.

The Bill once adopted will provide for the usage of Khasi language as the associate official language in...