BARPETA, Sept 13 - A total of 94 lives have been lost in 308 road accidents up to August this year in Barpeta district, according to police sources.
Last year, a total of 115 people had died in 480 road mishaps.
Concerned over the high number of road accidents, the district administration convened a meeting of the road safety committee recently.
The meeting, presided over by Deputy Commissioner Munindra Sarma, was attended by representatives of various departments, including police, transport, PWD, National Highways Authority of India, municipal boards, and road construction companies.
The meeting discussed issues like incomplete construction of road dividers, absence of dividers in many areas and invasive weeds covering many parts of the roadside and dividers.
People of the district have been alleging low quality of work in the construction of NH-31. Repeated deadlines set by the authorities have been flouted by the contractors. There are potholes galore on the roads due to lack of maintenance, which are considered responsible for frequent accidents.
A delegation led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pulak Patgiri visited the 27-km incomplete stretch of National Highway-31 and suggested measures to be taken on that portion.
Poshan Abhiyan: A mass awareness programme on Poshan Abhiyan, the Prime Minister�s scheme for holistic nourishment, was launched in Barpeta jointly by the district administration and the Social Welfare Department.
A colourful procession was taken out throughout the town from the Millennium Park to Tarunram Phukan Hall. Flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Munindra Sarma, many people, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers, teachers and cultural troupes of the district, took part in the programme.
DC Sarma urged the people to lay emphasis on nutrition and adopt food habits accordingly. He also requested the people to desist from eating junk food. Additional Deputy Commissioner Pallab Mazumdar, state coordinator of Poshan Abhiyan Hargobinda Boro and district election officer Prabir Kumar Dutta also attended the programme.
DIPRO Bikash Sarma said a door-to-door campaign for nourishment will be conducted in order to make people aware about the Poshan Abhiyan or the National Nutrition Mission initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hemen Das, secretary in the State Department of Social Welfare also visited Barpeta and reviewed progress of the National Nutrition Month.
District Development Committee meet held: A meeting of the District Development Committee was held here with a two-day programme.
Presided over by DC Munindra Sarma, the meeting discussed several aspects of development. Sarma said that after the Lok Sabha election, the officials were engaged in activities related to floods and NRC for which they could not attend to developmental activities. He therefore urged everyone to focus on development.
District Development Commissioner Dr Babul Sahariya and heads of departments like health, water resources, PWD, soil conservation, PHE, handloom and textiles, sericulture, education, fishery, irrigation and veterinary attended the meeting.
Sarukshetri Book Fair: The 13th Sarukshetri Book Fair will be organised by Victor Group of Sarthebari with a five-day programme from October 16 to 20.
A management committee has been formed with Parag Deka as president and Rupam Choudhury and Arnabjyoti Deka as secretaries. A souvenir titled Aami to be edited by Harish Das will be published on the occasion. A number of literary and educational programmes will be organised.
World Physiotherapy Day: World Physiotherapy Day was observed here with the theme: �Making India Pain Free�. It was organised by DPRC in collaboration with NGO Asal and socio-cultural organisation Rangghar.
Aimed at creating awareness about the much-needed method of treatment and prevention of a number of ailments, a group of doctors provided free assessment and treatment to a lot of people. Diganta Das, chief managing director of DPRC said physiotherapy has since long been regarded as the last resort to cure a number of ailments, but now has become an indispensable part to prevent diseases.
