July 26, 2026 11:41 am
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ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

Author name: OnlineAge

REGIONAL

Meghalaya signs agreement with Oxford Policy Management for yearly health survey

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SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed an agreement with Oxford Policy Management India to undertake a yearly health survey that will generate detailed public health data for policy planning and monitoring of healthcare schemes, officials said. The agreement was signed between the State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC) Meghalaya and Oxford Policy Management India in the presence of National Health Mission Meghalaya Mission Director Ramakrishna Chitturi, they said. D Valerie Laloo signed the agreement on behalf of the state health department, while Prabal Vikram Singh represented the organisation. Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based healthcare delivery and improve planning of medical services across the state through regular and detailed collection of health-related data. They said the survey would go beyond conventional data collection exercises by establishing a system capable of generating periodic public health statistics to support policymaking and improve implementation of healthcare programmes. According to officials, the exercise is expected to help the state identify emerging health challenges, assess disparities across districts, track the progress of welfare schemes and strengthen accountability in healthcare service delivery. Authorities also said the availability of timely and location-specific health data would enable better allocation of resources and more informed decision-making in Meghalaya’s public healthcare sector. The collaboration reflects the state government’s broader push towards data-driven governance and institutional mechanisms for continuous monitoring and evaluation of healthcare services, the official added. (Source: PTI)          

REGIONAL

US-Assam will identify more scenarios for possible ties: Ambassador Sergio Gor

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GUWAHATI : US Ambassador Sergio Gor on Tuesday said his country will explore more opportunities with Assam that will be commercially beneficial to both sides. Gor was in Guwahati to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who created history by becoming the only non-Congress and the first BJP CM to assume power for two successive terms in the state. “Honored to have been invited to Guwahati today to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma,” Gor said in a post on social media. “The United States and Assam have many commercial ties, and with the CM’s leadership we will identify many more win-win scenarios for both of our nations!” he added. Along with Sarma, four MLAs — the BJP’s Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP’s Atul Bora, Charan Boro of BPF — also took oath as ministers. The oath taking function was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, among others. Several diplomates and leading industrialists also witnessed the grand ceremony at the Veterinary College Field in Khanapara. (Source: PTI)

REGIONAL

‘Double-engine’ Assam govt to inject new momentum in development: Nabin

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GUWAHATI : BJP president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday said the ‘double-engine’ government in Assam will accelerate development activities, investment and public welfare programmes. He attended the swearing-in ceremony of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and congratulated him on taking charge for the second time. “This occasion marks a renewed momentum for Assam’s ongoing journey toward good governance, stability, and development. As the ‘Double Engine’ NDA government, this coordination between the Centre and the state will infuse new energy and pace in areas such as foundational infrastructure, investment, connectivity, and public welfare,” Nabin said on X. The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. Nabin exuded confidence that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sarma’s administration will take the state to new heights of progress and prosperity. “Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, Assam is today emerging as the ‘development engine of the Northeast,’ leading the progress and prosperity of the entire region,” the BJP chief said. The unprecedented efforts toward connectivity, peace and preservation of cultural identity have given the state a new identity of development, he added. “This resounding mandate is a testament to the unwavering trust of the people of Assam and their clear support for the politics of development,” Nabin said, referring to the massive victory of the NDA in the Assembly elections. Earlier during the day, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Himanta Biswa Sarma as Chief Minister, along with a new council of ministers. Along with Sarma, four MLAs — the BJP’s Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP’s Atul Bora and Charan Boro of BPF — also took the oath as ministers. “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Shri Rameswar Teli Ji, Shri Atul Bora Ji, Shri Charan Boruah Ji, and Smt. Ajanta Neog Ji on taking oath in Assam’s newly formed cabinet,” Nabin said. Reacting to the series of social media posts, Sarma thanked his well-wishers. “Under your guidance, the BJP Assam will further accelerate its public welfare initiatives and continue to steadfastly advance toward realizing the resolve of the esteemed @narendramodi ji for a developed Assam,” he added. (Source: PTI)  

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Himanta takes oath as Assam CM

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GUWAHATI : Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term on Tuesday, marking the formation of the third BJP-led NDA government in a row in the northeastern state. Four MLAs – BJP’s Rameshwar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP’s Atul Bora, Charan Boro of BPF – also took oath as ministers. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to Sarma and the four legislators at a grand ceremony held at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara area in Guwahati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pabitra Margherita, chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states and BJP president Nitin Nabin were present at the swearing-in ceremony. The chief minister, attired in dhoti and kurta with the traditional ‘gamosa’ draped around his neck, took oath in the Assamese language. Three of the four legislators – Teli, Bora and Neog – also took their oath in Assamese, while the BPF minister took it in the Bodo language. The Prime Minister congratulated Sarma and the ministers after they were sworn in. After the oath-taking ceremony was over, the PM greeted the people and those present on the dais before leaving the venue. “With the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and the people of Assam, I took oath as the chief minister. Along with the council of ministers, we look forward to serving our people and continue to fulfil all their aspirations,” Sarma said in a post on X. Earlier, in a social media post, he said Assam will scale new heights of development in the coming days with their blessings. “Honoured to reaffirm my oath to the people of Assam as their Mukhya Sevak,” he said. Neog, Bora and Boro were members of Sarma’s first cabinet, while Teli, a former Union minister, returned to state politics. Neog was the finance minister, while Bora took care of the agriculture department and Boro held the transport department in the outgoing government. The NDA won a record 102 seats of the 126-member assembly, including the BJP’s 82 constituencies. The BJP allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF), bagged 10 seats each. (Source: PTI)

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Two NSCN cadres killed in gunfight

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CHANGLANG : Two suspected NSCN cadres were killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles in Changlang district, after security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation based on inputs about the movement of armed insurgents allegedly involved in extortion activities, police said on Tuesday. Changlang Superintendent of Police Kirli Padu said that the 8th Assam Rifles unit at Miao received specific inputs on Monday, regarding the presence and movement of armed NSCN cadres in the general area of Songking village and adjoining locations for extortion from villagers. Acting on the intelligence, Assam Rifles launched a counter-insurgency operation in the area. At around 8:30 pm, the security forces reportedly noticed movement of around 12 to 13 armed cadres near Duimukh Nallah. When challenged by security personnel, the insurgents allegedly opened fire, prompting retaliation by the Assam Rifles in self-defence, the SP said. Following the exchange of fire and subsequent search operation, security forces recovered two unidentified bodies of insurgents along with arms and war-like stores from the area. The deceased were later identified as self-styled Lt Col Umkong and self-styled Sgt Enu, the SP said. Police from Miao Police Station subsequently reached the spot and brought the bodies along with the recovered arms and ammunition. Items recovered during the operation included one 5.56 mm rifle, one AK rifle, a pistol, four magazines, 207 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres, one launcher round, one live hand grenade, a radio set and four torches. A case has been registered at Miao Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway, the SP added. (Source: PTI)

Editorial

West Bengal’s future lies in inclusive growth

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The swearing-in of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal’s Chief Minister marks a definitive shift in the state’s politics, with implications not only for the state but also for India. West Bengal is a major state that has resisted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s ideology, politics, and governance model for many years, but has now overwhelmingly shifted its allegiance to the party. The party’s progress from three seats in the 2016 Assembly polls to over 200 now has been consistent and marked by hard work at the ideological, organisational, and leadership levels. Politics and governments in West Bengal have endured for long periods and then undergone sudden shifts. It has happened this time too, though the signs of change have been seen for years. Though the Election Commission of India’s controversial SIR process, which denied voting rights to lakhs of people, and its security and administrative measures during the campaign may have had an impact on the polls, the electorate’s desire for a change cannot be disputed. Mamata Banerjee had thrived on regional identity politics, projecting herself as the defender of the state against an overbearing Centre and a majoritarian ideology. The BJP has offered a new identity framework based on national integrity, border security, citizenship, and demographic anxieties. It used issues such as illegal migration and minority appeasement, and succeeded in effecting religious polarisation to create a popular narrative in its favour. There was an anti-incumbency sentiment against the Trinamool Congress government centring on unemployment, corruption, misgovernance, and law-and-order issues. The political capital Mamata had gained from welfare politics and her standing among women suffered erosion, and the minority votes she had relied on were not enough to sustain her. The BJP secured a mandate for change in this setting. The new government has promised a rejuvenation of the state’s politics, economy, and society, but it faces serious challenges. There are immediate governance challenges, as shown by the killing of Suvendu’s aide. West Bengal has seen ruling parties using violence for domination and oppression, only to later get trapped in the culture of violence. It works against all parties in the course of time. Employment generation, industrialisation, infrastructure development, and economic improvement are major tasks before the government. It will get support from the Union government, but may have to start showing results in quick time. The society’s inclusive nature needs to be preserved, especially because Muslims constitute about 30% of the population. Suvendu is known for his militant Hindutva polemic and polarising rhetoric, like his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma. No government can perform or promote people’s welfare in a divisive social and political environment, and in a state of perpetual mobilisation. (Source: DH)    

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Khangri glacier showing rapid changes, flood threat detected: Study

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ITANAGAR, Scientists studying the Khangri glacier in Tawang district have observed rapid melting, formation of unstable terrain and the emergence of a potentially dangerous glacial lake that could pose a flood threat to downstream areas in the Mago Chu basin, an official said on Monday. The findings were made during the fifth Khangri glacier expedition conducted by the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) here, in collaboration with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, he said. The scientific expedition began on May 4 in the transboundary Mago Chu basin, a key headwaters region of the Brahmaputra Basin system, with an aim of carrying out glacier health assessments, cryosphere monitoring, and climate hazard studies in the eastern Himalayas. CESHS director Tage Tana said the expedition team observed “alarming geomorphological changes in the Khangri glacier” during ground studies, indicating the growing impact of climate variability in the high-altitude Himalayan region. Among the major observations was the development of a large glacier sinking zone where the glacier snout is rapidly collapsing, creating unstable terrain conditions. Scientists warned that such instability could increase landscape hazards and downstream vulnerability in the Mago Chu basin. The team also identified a newly formed proglacial lake at an altitude of around 16,500 feet. According to the scientists, the lake has the potential to trigger a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), which could impact downstream communities and river systems, including transboundary regions. Despite comparatively good snowfall during the winter season this year, researchers found that glacier melting continues at a critical pace due to rising temperatures and persistent climate variability across the eastern Himalayas, Tana said. To strengthen long-term glacier monitoring, the team installed five new scientific monitoring stakes at elevations of nearly 17,000 feet using an ice-core drilling system integrated with Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technology. These installations will help monitor glacier mass balance and surface movement in the coming years. The expedition team also retrieved important data from the existing automatic weather station (AWS) and automatic water level recorder. Maintenance and calibration of the systems were also carried out to ensure uninterrupted environmental monitoring in the high-altitude region, the official said. In addition, moraine sediments and glacier meltwater samples were collected from the glacier snout for geochemical analysis. Tana said the successful completion of the expedition has strengthened long-term cryosphere monitoring efforts in the eastern Himalayas and will provide important scientific inputs on glacier dynamics, water security, and climate-related hazards in the region. (Source: PTI)  

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Digital information board launched

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  BOMDILA, Dirang MLA and Advisor to Minister for Public Works Department Highways and Science & Technology, Phurpa Tsering on Monday inaugurated the Smart Public Information Board at Buddha Stadium in Bomdila. The inauguration was held in the presence of Kalaktang MLA Tseten Chombey, Thrizino MLA Tenzin Nima Glow, West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar, Superintendent of Police Dorjee Wangdi Thungon, State Bank of India (SBI) Chief Manager Bedanga Goswami, heads of departments and members of the public. The Smart Public Information Board has been installed at the centre of Bomdila township to disseminate information on government schemes, programmes and public messages through digital platforms, aimed at improving public outreach and awareness. The project has been sponsored by the SBI, Bomdila branch, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. (DIPR)

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Blood donation camp held

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ZIRO, The Lower Subansiri Police and Galo Welfare Society (GWS), Ziro Unit, jointly organised a voluntary blood donation camp at the Blood Centre of Gyati Takka Zonal General Hospital, Ziro, on Monday to mark the seventh death anniversary of former GWS Ziro Unit president late Dr Minge Loyi. The programme was organised under the Pan Arunachal Voluntary Blood Donation Programme with the objective of promoting humanitarian service and community welfare through blood donation. A total of 29 volunteers participated in the camp, during which 22 units of blood were collected. The initiative was led by Lower Subansiri Superintendent of Police Keni Bagra, Inspector Nani K Nabin and GWS members Topi Sora, Tayo Nada, Kejum Riba and Morba Karbak, among others. The organisers said the initiative aimed to transform a day of remembrance into a life-saving mission and encourage more organisations and individuals to participate in voluntary blood donation drives. They also stated that such service-oriented commemorations would help carry forward the legacy of social leaders by contributing towards the welfare of the community. (DIPR)

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Storm damages cooperative society office

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YINGKIONG, A severe storm that struck Yingkiong headquarters in Upper Siang district on Sunday caused extensive damage to the office building of the Mori Banggo Multipurpose Cooperative Society. According to reports, strong winds blew away the tin roofing sheets of the office building, severely affecting the functioning of the society. The Mori Banggo Multipurpose Cooperative Society is among the prominent and actively functioning cooperative societies operating under the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) in Yingkiong. No casualty was reported in the incident.