A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Jal Jeevan Mission, Assam and National Health Mission, Assam to involve ASHAs to ensure better project implementation of both the Missions.
The Convergence of Jal Jeevan Mission, Assam and National Health Mission, Assam, is expected to boost the initiatives of both the Missions. While Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide access of quality water, it automatically reduces the burden on NHM by nipping in the bud causes of various regularly occurring water borne diseases, like diarrhoea to vector borne diseases like Malaria & Japanese encephalitis etc. It is further expected that this convergence would increase the opportunity to reduce school dropout ratios among children and also help to minimize medical expenses for the family for treatment of waterborne diseases.
The ASHA workers will play a pivotal role in this convergence because of their connect and their trust with the rural community. The ASHAs can not only highlight their regular topics related to health but they can delve deep to explain on various issues of preventive, promotive, and curative health, through the use of potable drinking water provided through Functional Health Tap Connections and water handling practices.
The JJM, Assam and NHM, Assam convergence, will also make sure that these steps to improved health conditions of the rural populace is sustained for the long run through better operation and maintenance of the water supply schemes by the community themselves.
The Minister for Public Health Engineering, etc., Sri Jayanta Mallabaruah, addressing the gathering said that “both Jal Jeevan Mission, Assam and National Health Mission, Assam were corelated, and were working to ensure good health for every rural household.” He said that “as Jal Jeevan Mission approaches it target, this initiative with NHM will go the extra mile to ensure the longevity of the piped water supply scheme.”
“NHM will support this initiative in all possible ways to ensure the health and well-being of everyone.” said Sri. Kesab Mahanta, Minister of Health and Family Welfare etc.
The meeting was also graced by Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sri Avinash Purushottam Das Joshi, IAS, Sri. Kailash Karthik. N., IAS. Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, Assam, and Dr. M.S. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Assam.
The Centenary Celebration of Cottonian – an annual journal published by the student community of Cotton University (erstwhile Cotton College) – concluded with a closing ceremony at the Varsity premise today. Noted social scientist and Andy Matsui Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Asian University for Women, Bangladesh, Prof. Sanjib Baruah graced the occasion as the invited speaker. He spoke on ‘The Year of the Apollo Moon Landing in Cotton College: Memories and Reflections’.
Prof. Baruah had served as the editor of Cottonian during 1968-69, the year that humans first walked on the moon. He recalled how the historic event was also featured on the cover of his issue of the magazine. He shared how his editorial column reflected on French students’ movement, American students’ movement and a range of other issues that were pertinent during that time. “Memories are always complicated. Who decides what is of historical significance? This has always made me curious. It is this curiosity that has made me do what I have done”, he shared.
During his deliberation, he reflected back on a range of issues, drawing on his experiences of life in Assam and the United States of America. In the question and answer session that followed, Prof. Baruah interacted with faculty members and students. He stressed that the purpose of education should be to create bold spaces that allow people to discuss, deliberate as well as challenge existing histories and thought processes. He appealed to the students to develop curiosity and challenge perspectives of what is significant and what is not.
During his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of Cotton University Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka said, “Cottonian magazine started in the year 1922. This is perhaps the only students’ magazine or one of the few magazines in the history of Assam to have completed 100 years. The magazine has served as a catalyst for intellectual discourse, a canvas for artistic expression and a mirror reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the society”.
Head of the Centre for Women Studies Prof. Rakhee Kalita Moral, while introducing the speaker said, “Prof. Baruah is one of the most preeminent voices from Northeast India, speaking not only to the country but to the entire world. It is quite impossible for researchers and scholars of literature, history, politics, anthropology and other disciples to navigate the terrain of Northeast India studies without reading Prof. Baruah’s work”.
The programme was attended by former Editors of Cottonian, alumni, officials, faculty members and students. The programme was organized by the University in association with the Cotton University Students’ Union (CUSU) and was hosted by Editor of Cottonian (2023-24) Srinjana Sarma. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by General Secretary of CUSU Javed Akhtar.
