New Delhi: Shiva Rani Kalita has won the Best Actress award at the 4th Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards, held virtually from 22-26 June in Canada.
22-year-old Rani Kalita from Baligaon village in Assam’s Dhakuakhana area has been honoured for her role in the Assamese film Bridge by director Kripal Kalita.
“I had a dream of becoming an actress as I acted in plays and got the offer to act in Bridge when I was doing my BSc,” Rani Kalita, who works at a departmental store in North Lakhimpur, has been quoted as saying.
The movie, which has been screened at 28 other international film festivals, talks about the devastation caused by the annual floods in Assam and people’s relationship with the Brahmaputra river.
“We discovered her (Rani Kalita) from among 300 girls who had come for the audition. The role demanded the character, Jonaki, to do the work of a man — ploughing, rearing cattle, building a house etc,” Kripal told The New Indian Express.
“We searched for a girl who does not know acting. As such, she had to mostly do the activities,” he added.
Also read: This Assam mason’s dream to fly a seaplane is powered by a 220cc motorcycle engine
Four Mizo entrepreneurs are helping govt sail through Covid
A team of four entrepreneurs in Mizoram has developed several mobile apps for the state government for free to help it sail through Covid-19.
The four entrepreneurs are Zorempuia Chuauhang, who holds a Master in Computer Application degree from Jamia Millia Islamia; Francis Lalnunmawia, a Masters in Computer Application from Sikkim Manipal University; Gospel Ramdinmawia, a B.E. in Computer Science and Engineering from Coimbatore Institute of Technology; and Alan Lalhriatpuia, an M.Tech from BITS Pilani.
Together, they run a firm in Mizoram named Lailen Consulting Private Limited.
Some of the apps created by them include ‘Curfew Pass’ that allows a user to ask for passes to the DC; ‘Online Appointment System’ for the revenue directorate, and another app that allows farmers to ask the veterinary department for food and medicines.
They have also developed a ‘PWD Asset Tracking System’ and ‘PWD Contact-less Attendance System’.
Sulhnu is another app that keeps track of visitors to a particular location and also a user’s movement history. The aim is to eventually be of use in the task of contact tracing when needed. This app has been placed in nearly every shop, restaurants, and public places in the state.
Five veterinarians trek to West Sikkim valley to cure 60 sick yaks
A group of veterinarians recently undertook a two-day trek to Yangthang valley in West Sikkim to tend to 60 sick yaks. There is no road connectivity to the region.
They decided to visit the hilly Yangthang after receiving reports about some yaks exhibiting signs of vesicular lesions in the oral cavity, accompanied by excessive salivation, anorexia and even death.
The team of five, headed by Arjun Kumar Chettri from the Darap Veterinary Dispensary, visited the area on 23 June and set up a three-day treatment-cum-vaccination camp for the animals. Chettri was accompanied by Loknath Poudyal, Nim Pintso Bhutia, Raptay Bhutia, and Hemant Limboo.
Manipur announces Rs. 1.2 cr award for athletes who win gold at Tokyo Olympics
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said the athletes from the state who win gold medals at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will be rewarded with a cash award of Rs 1.2 crore. Those winning silver will get Rs 1 crore and Rs 75 lakh for bronze medal winners.
“It is a matter of pride for a small state like Manipur as many as five players are being selected to represent the country in the Olympics. I am sure that the players will bring laurels and wish them success on behalf of the people of Manipur,” Singh has been quoted as saying.
The five athletes from the state who have been shortlisted are MC Mary Kom (Boxing), Sushila Likmabam (Judo), Saikhom Mirabai (Weightlifting), Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma (Hockey).
Also read: A 300-point game, cash reward — how Manipur Police plans to make villages Covid-free