GUWAHATI, May 4 ? Time is up perhaps for setting up an authority on Satriya dance form so that the artistes performing the art form can be made to adhere to some uniform code of conduct, or else, in the post-recognition period as a major Indian traditional dance form, it will soon land itself in chaos. There are many artistes nowadays who are expressing their eagerness to promote the cause of Satriya dance, but in many cases their attempts are confined within their individual limits so far as giving the art form a repertoire suiting a secular platform is concerned.

A good number of artistes...

GUWAHATI, May 4 ? Chairman of Assam Tea Planters? Association (ATPA), O P Chokhani has called for radical change in tea pricing system allowing the producers to fix the prices of their product instead of the buyers. Addressing the 65th annual general meeting of the ATPA at Gymkhana Club, Jorhat yesterday, Sri Chokhani pointed out the wide difference between the price paid by consumers in retail market and the price received by the producers. He said in the current practice although consumers were being forced to pay more for their cup of tea, traders were denying reasonable prices to the...

NEW DELHI, May 4 ? Alarmed at the plight of the tea workers, Assam Government has decided to expedite the process of leasing out the Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) gardens, even as Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi asked the Commerce Minister to organise a national seminar on the predicament of the tea industry. The order to immediately start the process of leasing out the 14 tea gardens was issued by Chief Minister, Gogoi after two separate meetings with the State Legislature Forum of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and officials of the Commerce Ministry here.

The Chief Minister...

GUWAHATI, May 4 ? In its bid to give a boost to the potent tourism sector in the State, Governmet of Assam in consultation with the Union Ministry of Tourism has prioritised 15 prime projects at a cost of Rs 12.27 crore out of which the State share will be Rs 3.53 crore against Central share of Rs 8.74 crore. Sources informed that in order to facilitate the growth of tourism as well as trade and commerce, the government proposed to set up an Assam International Trade Centre with all modern facilities. Meanwhile, the State tourism department has taken up a massive privatisation...

Imphal, May 04: To give more teeth to the State wildlife protection machinery and thereby make it more effective, the State Government has decided to revamp the Wild Life Advisory Board and appoint honorary wildlife wardens in both the hill and valley areas. A reliable source in the State Forest Department said today that the reserved forest area occupies five percent of the total forest area of the State. Under a new measure for protecting wildlife in National Parks and Sanctuaries, the Department will be working hand in hand with local residents. Their co-operation will be sought in every...