NB EXTRA : COOCHBEHAR

IGNOU opens new study centre

A new study centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was launched at Bhetaguri Lal Bahahur Shastri Vidyapith (BLBSV) of Dinhata in Cooch Behar district during the ongoing academic session (2007-2008). Headmaster of the BLBSV Md Majibar Rahman said the new IGNOU study centre will offer courses like BA (Pass and Honours) in Hindi, English, History, Political Science, Economics, Public Administration and Sociology, BCom and Certificate in Tourism Studies (CTS). The centre became functional from 1 July, the headmaster said.

Bhetaguri Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyapith is a renowned higher secondary school in Dinhata sub-division. As a co-educational school it is serving for a long to help the students especially from rural areas to continue their studies. It may be mentioned here that the first IGNOU study centre in Cooch Behar district was established at ABN Seal College. To meet the growing demand for higher studies the new study centre was opened at Bhetaguri. []

Dolphin death

Local fishermen at Purba Panisala village in Cooch Behar found a dolphin in their net during fishing in Torsa river on Wednesday. Curious villagers thronged to the spot to have a glance of the water animal. The dolphin was about 25-kilogram in weight, a fisherman said. As it was taken out of water it died within a short time. Meanwhile some villagers informed the forest department officials about the catch. But forest officials arrived after its death. They had to take its lifeless body away.

PHOTO : Viewers encircling the dolphin at Purba Panisala village in Cooch Behar.

Achiever felicitated

Ushashi Bhaumik was felicitated at her school – Sunity Academy – last week (11 July). Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar, Deputy Director of School Education Mr Manoranjan Roy, Mr Dipankar Pal (DPO), headmistress of Sunity Academy Mrs Bhupali Roy and other teachers and students of the school were present at the ceremony that was held at the conference hall of the school. An engraved silver plaque was presented to her as a memento for her outstanding achievement in the Madhyamik examination.

Ushashi Bhaumik of Sunity Academy is the second ranker in the Madhyamik examination of this year. She secured 794 marks. Ushashi's father Mr Dwijendralal Bhaumik is the headmaster of Baneswar Khabsa High School and her mother Mrs Seema Bhaumik is the assistant headmistress of Maruganj High School.

Expressing her happiness over the success of Ushashi, the headmistress of Sunity Academy Mrs Bhupali Roy said, "She added a new gem on the crown of our school".

PHOTO : Ushashi Bhaumik with Mrs Bhupali Roy at Sunity Academy.

Seminar at Alipurduar

A seminar on women and child welfare, education, healthcare, trafficking and child marriage was held at Panchkelguri in Alipurduar recently. The programme was organised by the social welfare department.

In his address Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das said economic self-sufficiency, proper education and awareness were needed to eradicate the evil systems from the society. He opined that one should not depend on the police alone to stop girl trafficking and child marriage. Social awareness is the main weapon to fight against these, he said. He called upon all to organise social resistance to draw an end to girl trafficking so that no one can lure local girls to outside in the name of good marriage or jobs. Social awareness can stop superstitions too, he opined. He made it clear that the women empowerment can be achieved when they become self-sufficient. Only providing with relief one cannot be uplifted as a responsible social being, he opined.

Alipurduar-I BDO Mr Amal Acharya, CDPO Ms Pramila Ray and saha-savapati of Alipurduar-I Panchayat Samity Mr Subrata Ray were present among the speakers on the occasion.