NORTH EAST Briefs

Arunachal Has the Highest Number of Govt Job Holders ITANAGAR, JANUARY 20 (UNI): With a ratio of 1:14, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of government service holders in comparison to other developing states in the country, said Planning Secretary of Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Sonam Chombey.  Addressing the opening session of a day-long conference, organised by the ASSOCHAM on “Linking Prospective Food Entrepreneurs with Government Schemes & Markets” in collaboration with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GOI with the initiative of state government on Monday,Chombey urged youths not to run for white collar jobs as there were very limited vacancies. Instead of running behind government jobs, he appealed them to build their future by starting up their own business in agri and horti sectors. The programme was sponsored by NABARD, SBI, Arunachal Pradesh energy development agency, CIH, NEDFi and others, attended by resources persons and many enthusiastic young promising entrepreneurs with key objective to sharpen the entrepreneuring skills of the first generation as well as tiny entrepreneurs in agro-food processing sector by linking them with the support service providers. She said besides agri/horti cultivation, the state has tremendous scope in spice and bamboo production.  

Heavy snowfall in Sandakphu, Nathu La Gangtok/Siliguri, January 20 (IANS): Heavy snowfall was reported from Sandakphu in West Bengal's Darjeeling district and Nathu La, Tsomgo and Juluk of Sikkim on Wednesday. Due to the weather condition in Sikkim, tourist vehicles did not venture out to spots like Tsomgo and Baba Mandir in East Sikkim district, police said. The decision was taken as the road to Tsomgo was shut due to snowfall and to prevent accidents. The Sikkim weather office forecast more snowfall and dense fog in the upper reaches of the hills over the next three days. Visibility will go down to below 100 metres in the northern West Bengal districts also due to fog over the next three days. Since Wednesday morning, vast stretches of Darjeeling district including Sukhiapokhri, Lodama and Jorebungalow were wrapped in a thick veil of fog. Siliguri and Darjeeling towns, as also large parts of Sikkim, experienced heavy rain between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.