New Delhi: Assam’s Golaghat district is known for its lush tea gardens. But what has also been brewing in its tea estates are stories of aspiration created by a batch of football leagues for children.
The Golden Baby Leagues (GBL), an initiative of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has helped children from economically weaker backgrounds dream of brighter futures through the sport. They can be organised by clubs, academies, schools or NGOs engaged with children between the ages of six and 12. The leagues in Golaghat district were organised by the NRL Football Academy, an initiative by the Numaligarh Refinery Limited, a public sector oil company.
“A large portion of our players come from the surrounding tea gardens. They possess so much talent. But the mindset of most parents isn’t much in tune with modern times. The lives of most of the kids begin and end in the tea gardens itself. However, through football and the GBLs, they gain exposure of life outside the gardens and [it] gives the families hope that the sport can change their lives and give them a brighter future,” Chinmay Bora, league operator for the NRL Football Academy GBL in Golaghat’s Numaligarh town, said.
The first season of the GBL was held earlier this year. While the matches have been stopped due to the pandemic, the organisers plan to extend GBLs in Numaligarh to three months once normalcy returns.
How a students’ union in Nagaland is keeping school authorities on their toes
The Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) in Nagaland has been monitoring the performance and activities of government schools in Tuensang district so that studies are not affected because of the pandemic.
While the union members used to physically visit each school in the district’s villages earlier, they have now started conducting video calls with village education committees, school management and development committees, as well as other students’ unions and teachers, to ensure classes are being held properly.
Ben Langpong, assistant general secretary of CCSU, said video calls are made to villages with good network coverage and audio calls to those with unstable networks.
Mongko Chollen, federal assembly secretary of CCSU, added, “Video conferencing is a new experience for all of us and we appreciate those villages that responded positively. Monitoring keeps them on their toes. It will ensure that there will be no negligence and subsequently the teachers will be compelled to stay in their respective posting places.”
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After bamboo biscuits, Tripura govt now launches protein-rich bamboo rice
After it launched cookies made from bamboo shoots, the Tripura government has now launched bamboo rice, a variety produced from the flowers in bamboo trees.
“Those bamboos aged between 30 to 40 years produce flowers and from that flower ‘bamboo rice’ can be made. Bamboo rice has more protein than normal rice and wheat,” said Chief Minister Biplab Deb.
He also took to Twitter to announce the launch.
Glad to announce that Tripura successfully produced 'Bamboo rice'.
Launched 'Tripura Bamboo Rice' last evening.
Bamboo rice has more protein than normal rice and wheat. It helps to reduce joint pain, back pain and other pain. It also contains anti diabetic elements. pic.twitter.com/ZZs2NA9DYY
— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) October 6, 2020
He also said bamboo rice was important to get rid of cholesterol-related problems and beneficial for pregnant women.
Tripura grows around 21 species of bamboo in approximately 3,246 sq km of forest area and planned forestry. The state government had, in 2019, also decided to bring 15,000 hectare area under bamboo cultivation.
With no govt response for 30 years, Manipur villagers get together to repair 7-km road
The lone approach road to National Highway 202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district has been lying in a dilapidated condition for the past 30 years despite repeated pleas made by villagers of Tashar. Now, locals decided to get the work done themselves and repaired the stretch.
As part of a crowd-funded initiative, local youths were engaged in labour work to repair the road which included levelling, filling potholes, gravelling and widening.
The road was built in 1986, said the locals, by the state public works department. With the absence of gravel and a proper drainage system, the stretch had become especially dangerous during the monsoon seasons.
A.S. Shinmi, the village headman, said that the road’s poor condition was especially vexing during any medical emergency. “Even farmers from the village wanted to sell their farm produce in bulk in Imphal or Ukhrul, many continue to struggle since hiring charges of vehicles are expensive,” he added.
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