HT Correspondent
NAGAON, Sept 29: Nowgong Girls’ College hosted the all-Assam Binoy Chandra Bora Memorial Inter-College/University Debate Competition on the theme ‘Oil palm cultivation can be a sustainable source of socio-economic development in Assam’. The event began with an inaugural speech by the convenor, Sankar Jyoti Bora.
Dr Kulen Chandra Das, the college principal, lit the ceremonial lamp and delivered the welcome address. He welcomed participants from different institutions and stressed the importance of critical thinking and diligence among students. Saponti Bordoloi chaired the event as the speaker, while senior lawyer Mukul Prasad Borthakur and Indramohan Bora served as judges.
Over 26 participants from various educational institutions, including Nowgong Girls’ College, Nowgong College (Autonomous), ADP College, Kaliabor College, BKB College, Puranigudam, Nonoi College, Lanka Mahavidyalaya, Morigaon College, JB College, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Studies (Guwahati), Gauhati University, and Government Ayurvedic College, participated in the event.
The members of the treasury bench presented their arguments in favour of sustainable oil palm cultivation and its role in the socio-economic development of Assam. This sparked a wide range of contrasting arguments from the opposition bench, addressing issues such as environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and health hazards that could affect Assam’s socio-economic development.
Dimpimoni Dutta from JB College was awarded the title of the best debater, with Sudipta Sakia from JB College earning the second-best debater award. The best team award went to JB College, while the Institute of Mass Communication and Media Studies (IMCMS), Guwahati, was the runners-up team. The winners received trophies, cash prizes, and certificates. The program concluded with speeches from the speaker and judges, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr Namita Kalita.
