GUWAHATI, Nov 16 � �Despite a long drawn movement against illegal migration, the State of Assam has not achieved much in this field. The factors responsible for this include reluctance to solve the problem on the part of the State and the Union governments that were in power in all these years.�
Delivering his speech on the issue of migration and its impacts, eminent economist Dr Jayanta Madhab said that if steps are not taken on time, by 2020, 10 districts of Assam would have a majority of Muslim population in comparison to six such districts in 2001.
�The growth of Muslim population is expected to be many times higher by 2020 in comparison to the growth of Hindu population in the State. The reasons can be attributed to both natural population growth and that from migration,� he added.
Speaking on the occasion of RN Barooah and Protiva Barooah memorial award presentation function here, he said that though migration is a natural process, the intensity and impacts of illegal migration from Bangladesh can be dangerous in view of presence of fundamentalist forces in the neighbouring country.
The RN Barooah memorial award for best reporting on environment, tourism, and conservation of nature and wildlife for the year 2011 was conferred on Pulin Kalita, Senior Sub-editor of Dainik Asam. Kalita�s award winning write-ups include reporting on the condition of national parks, deforestation and hill cutting in and around Guwahati city.
The Protiva Barooah memorial award for best reporting on uplift of poor and needy for the year 2011 was given to Babul Kumar Boruah, Amguri (Sivasagar) correspondent of Dainik Janambhumi. His writings highlighting the need of development in the villages inhabited by Scheduled Caste (Kaivarta) people in Sivasagar and Jorhat districts won him the award.
Both the awardees thanked the organizers for their efforts to encourage journalists to write about such important issues.
The awards instituted in memory of late RN Barooah, former Editor of The Assam Tribune and his wife the late Protiva Barooah carry a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation. Journalist Radhika Mohan Bhagawati, Editor of Dainik Asam, who also presided over the meeting today, said that the topic of both the awards are very relevant in today�s context, specially for a State like Assam.
Film director Munin Baruah, who was the guest of honour, spoke on the life and contributions of RN Barooah. Being a member of the same family, Munin Baruah also spoke on his personal experience with late Barooah.
Earlier, the convener of the award committee and Executive Editor of The Assam Tribune PJ Baruah spoke on the growing popularity and response to both the awards. He also spoke on contributions of the late Barooah as a journalist and also as an editor of The Assam Tribune.
GUWAHATI, Nov 16 � �Despite a long drawn movement against illegal migration, the State of Assam has not achieved much in this field. The factors responsible for this include reluctance to solve the problem on the part of the State and the Union governments that were in power in all these years.�
Delivering his speech on the issue of migration and its impacts, eminent economist Dr Jayanta Madhab said that if steps are not taken on time, by 2020, 10 districts of Assam would have a majority of Muslim population in comparison to six such districts in 2001.
�The growth of Muslim population is expected to be many times higher by 2020 in comparison to the growth of Hindu population in the State. The reasons can be attributed to both natural population growth and that from migration,� he added.
Speaking on the occasion of RN Barooah and Protiva Barooah memorial award presentation function here, he said that though migration is a natural process, the intensity and impacts of illegal migration from Bangladesh can be dangerous in view of presence of fundamentalist forces in the neighbouring country.
The RN Barooah memorial award for best reporting on environment, tourism, and conservation of nature and wildlife for the year 2011 was conferred on Pulin Kalita, Senior Sub-editor of Dainik Asam. Kalita�s award winning write-ups include reporting on the condition of national parks, deforestation and hill cutting in and around Guwahati city.
The Protiva Barooah memorial award for best reporting on uplift of poor and needy for the year 2011 was given to Babul Kumar Boruah, Amguri (Sivasagar) correspondent of Dainik Janambhumi. His writings highlighting the need of development in the villages inhabited by Scheduled Caste (Kaivarta) people in Sivasagar and Jorhat districts won him the award.
Both the awardees thanked the organizers for their efforts to encourage journalists to write about such important issues.
The awards instituted in memory of late RN Barooah, former Editor of The Assam Tribune and his wife the late Protiva Barooah carry a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation. Journalist Radhika Mohan Bhagawati, Editor of Dainik Asam, who also presided over the meeting today, said that the topic of both the awards are very relevant in today�s context, specially for a State like Assam.
Film director Munin Baruah, who was the guest of honour, spoke on the life and contributions of RN Barooah. Being a member of the same family, Munin Baruah also spoke on his personal experience with late Barooah.
Earlier, the convener of the award committee and Executive Editor of The Assam Tribune PJ Baruah spoke on the growing popularity and response to both the awards. He also spoke on contributions of the late Barooah as a journalist and also as an editor of The Assam Tribune.
