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The Hills Emissary, Amolapatty, Opp. Sunrise English High School, Diphu, Karbi Anglong (2025)

06/06/2025

Nagaland’s revised ILP system sparks outrage over high fees and strict regulations

Correspondent

Diphu June 6: The Government of Nagaland’s recent revision of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, effective from September 20, 2024, has drawn sharp criticism from residents (Karbi Anglong , Dima Hasao, West Karbi Anglong etc) and visitors alike.

The updated regulations, outlined in a notification dated May 27, 2025, by Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, have significantly increased fees and imposed stringent documentation requirements, causing widespread discontent.

Under the new rules, tourists (domestic) are now charged ₹.200 for a 30-day permit, a steep hike from previous rates, while foreign tourists face a ₹.300 fee for the same duration.

Traders and laborers are hit hard, with annual fees of ₹.300 (fresh) and ₹.150 (renewal) for traders, and ₹.150 (fresh) and ₹.100 (renewal) for laborers for a 90-day permit.

Technical personnel, priests, and teachers are burdened with a ₹.1500 fee for 2- or 3-year permits, while partners in business face a staggering ₹.5000 for a one-time 3-year permit, renewable at ₹.3000. Critics argue these fees disproportionately affect low-income groups, making it harder for them to work or visit Nagaland.

The mandatory documentation, such as Aadhaar cards and certificates from institutions, has also been a point of contention. Many, especially migrant laborers and students, lack access to these documents, effectively barring them from entering Nagaland.

The requirement of a local guarantor for certain categories adds another layer of difficulty, with additional fees of ₹.500 per year for those needing one.

The decision to discontinue the off line ILP system as of December 31, 2024, has further fueled frustration, forcing applicants to navigate a cumbersome online process.

Additionally, the notification’s ambiguity around exemptions such as for those settled in Dimapur before December 1, 1963 has led to confusion and allegations of selective enforcement.

Residents and activists have also raised concerns over the enforcement mechanism. While only magistrates can impose fines for ILP violations, the lack of clarity on penalties and the potential for police overreach during checks has created fear among non-residents.

Reports of harassment during ILP checks are already emerging, with many worried about the impact on Nagaland’s tourism and trade sectors. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with many calling for the government to rollback these changes.

05/06/2025

Karbi language gets official boost under the jurisdiction of KAAC districts

Correspondent

Diphu June 5: In a significant move towards promoting indigenous identity, the Government of Assam has approved the use of the Karbi language in official correspondences in addition to English in the Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. The directive, issued via Governor’s Order No. PLB.560215/110 dated April 19, 2025, was circulated by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Secretariat on May 19, 2025.

As per the order, the Karbi language shall be used alongside English for all official purposes in the aforementioned districts. This step marks a major milestone in linguistic inclusion and recognition of regional languages within administrative processes.

The notification has been communicated to all departments and offices under KAAC for immediate implementation and necessary action.

05/06/2025

World Environment Day 2025; West Karbi Anglong strengthens 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative

Correspondent

Diphu June 5: On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, amidst the challenges posed by recent floods and adverse weather conditions, the West Karbi Anglong district launched a significant tree plantation drive under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" initiative. This heartfelt campaign saw active participation from schools, government offices, and prominent public representatives, who came together to plant saplings across the district, contributing to the ongoing reforestation efforts.

The initiative, aimed at fostering environmental stewardship, underscores the district's commitment to restoring its green cover and promoting sustainable practices. Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief, Dr. Tuliram Ronghang, led the drive with an inspiring message, urging collective action for a greener future.

"I urge all citizens of Karbi Anglong to reflect on our responsibility towards our Mother Earth. Let's plant more trees and conserve our natural resources. Every small step counts! Plant a tree. Let's pledge for a greener tomorrow!" said Dr. Ronghang.

The plantation drive not only honored World Environment Day but also reinforced the community's resolve to combat environmental challenges through unified efforts. The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign continues to inspire residents to take meaningful steps toward preserving the region's natural heritage.

04/06/2025

Street Plays to raise environmental awareness

Correspondent

Diphu June 4: To mark World Environment Day on June 5, the Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Assam, has initiated street plays across all Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs).

This government move aims to raise awareness on pressing environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, plastic pollution, and biodiversity conservation.

In Karbi Anglong, Nirola Phangchopi, District Commissioner, has instructed the Cultural Affairs and Forest Departments to organize the street plays at the block level within each LAC.

The District Administration has notified all concerned blocks under the respective LACs to take timely action as per the directive from the state government.

This street play aims to bring about positive behavioral change through culturally rich and accessible performances.

They will be conducted in prominent public spaces with the support of local Divisional Forest Officers. Videos and photos of the activities will be uploaded in the Government of India’s Mission LIFE portal.

The Deputy Commissioner has also directed coordination meetings with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), community leaders, and labor officers to ensure effective implementation.

Seedlings will be distributed to schoolchildren, the public, and participants to further reinforce the message of environmental stewardship.

03/06/2025

Minor drownes, mother rescued

Correspondent

Diphu June 3: In a tragic occurrence, a minor boy drowned in the Jamuna River at Manja, around 17 kilometer from Diphu, Karbi Anglong, on Sunday afternoon.

The child’s body, which went missing, was retrieved yesterday after an untiring search operation.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Kuki Students’ Organization (Manja Unit), and the residents of Kuki Colony did everything to take out the body of the minor from the swelled up river.

According to a few eyewitnesses the minor was accompanied by his mother and by accident fell into the river. In a desperate attempt to save him, the mother also plunged in the river but was unable to rescue her son.

In her attempt she too was swept away by the strong undercurrent but was saved by a local youth, Thangminhao Lhouvum, son of Pastor Thangkhojang Lhouvum who was nearby.

The mother is under treatment at the Diphu Medical College & Hospital.

31/05/2025

Join as an Agniveer

P K Chauhan

Diphu May 31: The Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Diphu, has initiated wider awareness on the Agnipath Scheme to boost participation of eligible youth from Karbi Anglong in the Indian Army recruitment drive.

According to a communication from the Home & Political Department, Government of Assam, and the HQ Recruiting Zone (NE States), the number of vacancies under the Agnipath Scheme is expected to double from the 2025-26 recruiting year onward.

This presents a valuable opportunity for youth to engage in nation-building while establishing a career early in life.

Despite continuous awareness drives by the Indian Army, participation from the region remains lower than expected due to limited awareness, remote accessibility, and misconceptions about the scheme.

The Agnipath Scheme offers not only a sense of patriotism and discipline but also provides career advancement opportunities, financial security, and access to benefits such as healthcare, housing, education, and post-retirement provisions.

In association with the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Assam, outreach programs were recently conducted in 15 educational institutions across Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. These included awareness on the importance of NCC, national service, and the benefits of joining as an Agniveer.

The Zila Sainik Welfare Office has urged the public and media to support and promote awareness of the scheme and the official Indian Army recruitment website, ensuring maximum registration and participation from the district’s youth.

31/05/2025

KVK Karbi Anglong inaugurates Viksh*t Krishi Sangkalp Abhiyan

Correspondent

Diphu May 31: A Pre-Kharif campaign entitled "Viksh*t Krishi Sangkalp Abhiyan" was inaugurated on 29th May, 2025 at Farmers Growth Centre, Diphu in presence of Amarsing Tisso, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.

Dorsing Ronghang, MLA, Dilip Terang, Secretary (Agriculture), officials of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council from line departments and financial institutions, scientists from AAU-ZRS, Diphu, Krishi Vigan Kendra, Karbi Anglong and farmers from different villages of the district were also present in the meeting.

This nationwide initiative launched across the country by the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE)/Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA & FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, will continue from 29th May, 2025 to 12th June.

Dr. Monuj Kumar Doley, Senior Scientist & Head of KVK, Karbi Anglong welcomed the gathering and emphasized about the objectives of the campaign which is launched to create awareness among farmers about region specific sustainable technologies related to major Kharif crops of the district.

Promoting the use of soil health cards for judicious use of fertilizers including micronutrients, disseminating the information about various government schemes and policies beneficial for farmers, and gathering the feedback from farmers to align future research and innovations matching to the ground-level needs.

Amarsing Tisso congratulated the KVK for successful implementation of the program and mentioned the potential of the district in agriculture and allied sectors and urged the need to focus on crop yield, environmental stability and food security. This was followed by the flag off ceremony of the two Krishi Raths.

During the campaign, a total of 5 development blocks viz. Lumbajong, Bokajan, Samelangso, Langsomepi and Nilip will be covered.

The Abhiyan will be implemented through two expert teams at four different locations per day, each team consisting of Scientists from ICAR Institutes, AAU, Jorhat and KVK, Karbi Anglong.

Field officers of Agriculture, Veterinary and Fishery departments, DICC, banking officials as well as experts from ASRLM will reach out to 800 farmers each day targeting villages with special emphasis on tribal, aspirational and geographically challenging areas.

It is envisaged that the campaign will be a successful one, having a positive impact on the farming community of the district.

30/05/2025

Diphu court sentences 20 years imprisonment to drug traders

P K Chauhan

Diphu May 30: In a landmark judgment Special Judge, NDPS Karbi Anglong Roshan Lal, today sentenced Rajesh Lakandri, Kumar Gajimer and Tangambou Marianmai to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 20 years each and fine of INR 200000/- for committing offence under section 21(c) NDPS Act.

Both sentences shall run concurrently. This judgment is referred to Dillai police station of Bokajan subdivision case no. 23/2022, NDPS no. 94/22, GR no. 180/22.

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances like Crystal Methamphetamine, He**in and Morphine exceeding INR ten Crore were recovered from the convicted person years back.

A highly placed Assam Police officer told this correspondent that the judgment passed by the Diphu judicial court has raised the morale of the police force who are tirelessly combating the drug supply. He mentioned that such a ruling will scare the criminals involved in such heinous crimes.

29/05/2025

Dharti Aaba Abhiyan from 15th June

Correspondent

Diphu May 29: Dharti Aaba Abhiyan, Awareness and Benefit Saturation Camps will be held from 15th to 30th June 2025. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, is launching this focused campaign.

This mission oriented campaigning is being taken up under the national framework of PM JANMAN and DA JGUA. This initiative aims to drench individual entitlements at the last-mile level in tribal areas and raise awareness about key government welfare schemes.

In Karbi Anglong district, the campaign will be rolled out across various villages and clusters under the active leadership of the District Administration, with full convergence of line departments including Health & Family Welfare, Panchayat and Rural Development, Agriculture, Social Justice, Revenue, and other departments.

Through this initiative, essential services such as Aadhaar, Ration Card, Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), Caste and Domicile Certificates, Kisan Credit Card , PM-KISAN, Jan Dhan Account, insurance coverage (PMJJBY/PMSBY), social security pensions, employment and livelihood schemes.

Dharti Aaba Abhiyan will encompass schemes like MGNREGA, PM Vishwakarma, Mudra Loans, Women & Child Welfare services (including PMMVY and immunization) will be delivered directly to beneficiaries at the grassroots level.

It is noteworthy that this program was also conducted successfully from 15th to 26th November 2024, with the inaugural ceremony held at Diphu Club, Diphu.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from departments such as Health & Family Welfare, ASLRM, Agriculture, Panchayat and Rural Development etc.

More than 400 participants from various tribes, farmers and villagers attended the benefit saturation camps, which were organized under the leadership of the District Administration.

At the block level, Village Development Councils played a key role in mobilizing farmers and the general public, leading to substantial turnout and community engagement.

Encouraged by the overwhelming response and successful outreach witnessed last year, the District Administration anticipates even greater participation this year.

The campaign will place special emphasis on identifying Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and underserved tribal villages to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes reach the most marginalized and needy segments of society.

28/05/2025

MP Amarsing Tisso’s efforts bear fruit; Rajdhani Express to stop at Diphu

P K Chauhan

Diphu May 28: Amarsing Tisso, Member of Parliament for the 6-Diphu (ST) Loksabha constituency of Assam, has successfully advocated for improved railway services in Diphu.

Representing Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao districts, Tisso wrote to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, on August 5, 2024, highlighting the region’s limited rail connectivity despite its importance as a tourist and traveler hub.

Diphu, the administrative headquarter of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), is the largest town in Assam’s hill districts, with a population exceeding one lakh.

The Diphu Railway Station, a C-category station under the Lumding Railway Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway Zone, Maligaon, Guwahati, lies on the Lumding-Dibrugarh main line.

However, key trains like the 12423/12424 New Delhi-Dibrugarh Town Rajdhani Express, 15906/15907 Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express, and 22502/22503 New Tinsukia-SMVT Bengaluru Superfast Express previously had no stoppage at Diphu, forcing residents to travel 37-39 km to Dimapur or Lumding Junction.

In his letter, Tisso urged the Ministry to introduce a 1-2 minute stoppage for these trains to ease the inconvenience faced by locals. He also called for the expedited completion of expansion, renovation, and beautification works at Diphu Railway Station to enhance passenger experience.

Noting that West Karbi Anglong lacks any rail network and Karbi Anglong has had limited stations since independence, Tisso stressed the urgent need for better connectivity to benefit the public?

The wait is now over for the people of Karbi Anglong (Diphu). On May 27, 2025, the Railway Ministry approved a stoppage for the 12423/12424 new Delhi-Dibrugarh Town Rajdhani Express at Diphu, as confirmed in reference No. 2025/CHG/13/NFR/07-Part (1) and letter No. T/197/MP, ML's/TM dated 21/23.05.2025 by the Joint Director (Coaching), Railway Board, and New Delhi.

In a letter addressed to MP Amarsing Tisso, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, overseeing Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, announced the approval, marking a significant win for regional connectivity.

This development is expected to greatly benefit residents, tourists, and travelers, with hopes that further stoppages for other trains and station improvements will follow soon.

26/05/2025

Proposed Hydel Project in Tharakunchi; a step toward progress in West Karbi Anglong

P K Chauhan

Diphu May 26: In a noteworthy development for West Karbi Anglong, a public interaction meeting was held yesterday in Tharakunchi under the Amri MAC Constituency to discuss the proposed hydro electric project by Greenko Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).

The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Tuliram Ronghang, Howraghat MLA Darsing Ronghang, Local MAC and Executive Member Dominic Uphing Maslai, KAAC Deputy Speaker Avijit Kro, other Executive Members, MACs, Board Chairpersons, Project Managers, APDCL officials, Gaon Burah, Sarkari Gaon Burah, and local residents.

The quantum of production will be assessed after the survey and proper data analysis, however it can be expected that this project will generate sufficient energy to meet the growing demand of power for the upcoming industrial sector of the state.

Tuliram Ronghang emphasized the project's importance for the region's overall progress, stating, "we understand the significance of this hydel project for West Karbi Anglong's development. Equally, we prioritize the well-being and concerns of our citizens."

The meeting provided a platform for constructive dialogue, allowing villagers to voice their grievances and concerns regarding the upcoming project.

25/05/2025

Phanibhushan Chakraborty at 67 to compete in state championship

Correspondent

Diphu May 25: At 67, Phanibhushan Chakraborty, a powerlifting icon from the railway town of Lumding, continues to defy age with his unwavering determination and passion for the sport.

Having already earned gold, silver, and bronze medals at district, state, national, and international levels, Chakraborty is set to inspire once again at the upcoming 52nd All Assam Inter-District Equipped Power lifting and 13th All Assam Inter-District Masters Men & Women Competition.

The event, scheduled for May 18 at the Bhupen Hazarika Auditorium of Mirza College, is being organized by the Kamrup Rural Power lifting Association, which is finalizing preparations to ensure a seamless championship event.

Chakraborty, representing Hojai district’s Lumding, will not only compete as an athlete in the men’s masters’ category but also serve as a referee, showcasing his deep commitment to the sport.

Joining him from Hojai district in the men’s masters category are Sanjit Chatterjee and Arup Dey. In the women’s masters’ category, Baby Saha, Rita Dey, Majni Begum Dey, and Loni Dutta will proudly represent the district, aiming to make their mark.

Chakraborty’s journey is a testament to the power of willpower, proving that age is no barrier for achieving greatness. His participation is expected to inspire young athletes and bring further pride to Assam and the nation.

The Hills Emissary

06/06/2025

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