Beating adversity

Mrinaljyoti Porel of Darrang College, Tezpur — who secured the third rank in the science stream in the higher secondary examination, the results of which were declared last week — studied for his exams amid tough challenges, says a report in the Guwahati-based Assam Tribune. Mrinal, a resident of Rupak Nagar, got a total of 480 marks with letter marks in all subjects. He scored 96 in English, 95 in Alternative English, 98 in Physics, 95 in Chemistry, 96 in Mathematics and 84 in Biology.

However, life has not been easy for Mrinal in the last few years. He underwent severe mental agony, after his father, Bhesh Raj Porel, a professor of statistics in Darrang College, went missing on 12 May 2014 after dropping him at Don Bosco High School, Tezpur. His mother, Nirumala Devi, had to look after him alone.

Mrinal, who dreams of becoming a physicist, said he has already cleared the IIT-JEE. “Though I have cleared these competitive examinations, I will take the decision of my future education after clearing the entrance of the Indian Institution of Science and Education Research that will be held on 24 June because through this, one can pursue research work in physics,” he said. He expressed gratitude to all his teachers for supporting him in his father’s absence.

No salary

The All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union informed last week that it has been three months since Hindi teachers appointed during the year 2012-13 have received their salaries, according to a report in the Dimapur-based Morung Express.

A press note from the ANHTU said that the 1379 Hindi teachers “have never been receiving their salaries regularly. And besides that, some of the DDOs have not released the 7th ROP arrears of some teachers as well. The Hindi teachers had been receiving their salaries only after seven to eight months of pending.”

Three months without salary at present, the ANHTU stated that the teachers have been forced to face a lot of obstacles in the monetary arrangements for the higher studies of their children as well.

The ANHTU therefore requested the Nagaland government and the department concerned to “stop this discrimination of Hindi teachers and provide same treatment to all state employees along with the release of pending salaries at the earliest.”

Plastic-free zone

The Manipur Legislative Assembly announced that any items of plastic and polythene will be banned in the premises of the New Assembly complex, Old Assembly complex and Assembly guest house from 1 June, says a report in the Imphal Free Press.

As per the order passed today by Manipur Legislative Assembly secretary, M Ramani Devi, it stated that the speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly declares the premises of Assembly secretariat as “Plastic Free Zone”.

It also added that the order is for strict compliance by all concerned.