GUWAHATI, April 24 ? All major socio-economic indicators including per capita GDP mortality rate, per capita consumption of electricity etc point towards the widening gap between Assam and the rest of the country. According to the figures given in the Development profile of Assam?, published by the State Government recently, the per capita GDP of Assam at constant prices (1993-94) is Rs 6,733 against the national average of Rs 11,632 and the gap is increasing since the beginning of the 9th Five year Plan. There has been a substantial increase of the population living below the poverty line...

GUWAHATI, April 24 ? Poetry is the voice of humanity. Since time immemorial poetry has been reverberating with its sound in the deep recesses of mortal humans. Wherever there is man there is poetry. Whenever one tries to listen, each person can hear in the quietness of his own mind the flowing cadence of dawn and dusk, of truth and beauty. Noted poet Padmashree Nilamani Phookan said this after he was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship ? the highest honour of the Akademi ? here this evening.

Conferring the Fellowship on the poet, Sahitya Akademi president Ramakanta Rath said Sri...

GUWAHATI, April 24 ? The flood-prone State is staring at a catastrophy in the event of even a medium magnitude flood this season as about 72 numbers of critical flood and anti-erosion schemes under the Central sector funding are yet to be completed due to non-release of fund for the last two consecutive years, of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Sources in the Flood Control Department informed that during the Ninth Plan period the State received Rs 18 crore in 1997-98 under Central sector schemes. However, out of the amount only Rs 10 crore was received actually as Rs 8 crore was deducted at source as...

NEW DELHI, April 24 ? Although the highest allocation from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Fund went to Assam, the State has slipped in utilisation, even as Tripura emerged at the top in terms of utilisation of funds sanctioned out of the pool. For the fund starved north-eastern States, there is encouraging news in store as with the activation of the Central Pool of Resources the allocation is expected to go up. Allocation for the last four years has recorded a quantum jump to Rs 1,346.72 crore. Among the north eastern States, the highest allocation of Rs 293.16 crore has flowed to Assam...

GUWAHATI, April 24 ? Encouraged by the increasing volume of trade between Assam and Bangladesh during the past several years, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 12 crore for development of two trade points in the State. The fund has been sanctioned for Sutarkandi and Mankachar in order to upgrade the existing infrastructure. Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the State industry department had already initiated work to develop the Sutarkandi point keeping in view the trade potential in the State. ?We have received Rs 1 crore so far for setting up a truck terminus and bank...