Meghalaya State BJP waiting for central nod to new executive members

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 9: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek has informed that the list of the new state executive members is awaiting the approval of the central leadership.

“This morning I spoke to the newly elected president Rikman G Momin, who is on the way to Delhi with a list for the approval of the central leaders. After getting the approval, they will publish the names of the new state executive members of the party,” Hek told reporters.

On the party’s preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Hek said that his name is among the three ticket aspirants for the Shillong parliamentary seat.

“However, I don’t know who the other two names are. So we will see who from the three names will be the best choice for contesting from Shillong parliamentary seat,” he said while adding “Among the three, whoever will be chosen, we will have to work hard and ensure win in this upcoming Lok Sabha election.”

On TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma joining the BJP, Hek however said the door of the BJP is not only open to TMC but also to all political parties.

“Mukul Sangma can join at any time he wants. I welcome him anytime but we have not discussed so how will I know if he is joining or not. But for us the door is open to anybody who wants to come to the BJP,” he said.

Hek also said that he has no idea on whether Mukul Sangma is in touch or not with the BJP central leadership.

New company to take over 108 emergency services in Meghalaya

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 1: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today said that the new company will take over the 108 emergency services within two weeks’ time.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh informed that the department is happy this time that 7 companies have participated in the bidding process and this has happened for the first time.

“I hope this will yield a good result in the interest of the service for the people of the state,” she said.

Lyngdoh said, “We are expecting it to complete or close by the end of today but the new company will likely take approximately a fortnight to actually roll out its services in full capacity.”

In her meeting with the 108 workers yesterday, the minister said that it was just a continuation of the commitment as a government to ensure that workers of the 108 feel convinced and confident that the government is trying its level best to ensure that the rights of 108 workers are protected.

“I had promised them in the previous meeting that once the bid was getting progressed I would brief them on what is the plan of action we have in mind to protect the interest of the 108 workers,” she added.

Lyngdoh informed that every company has been asked as part of the technical bid to present a full-fledged plan for workers of 108.

 “Things like insurance coverage, ex-gratia, health coverage, accident insurances – all of these insurances have now been promised all of the bidders who have come for this 108 bid. The bid has also mandated that we ensure a regular increment for the 108 workers, which was something which was not really taking off so that was also being discussed and 7 per cent annual increment has also been promised by all of the bidders in the technical round of the bidding,” she said.

She said that the meeting was just an interaction with the workers to assure them that “we are concerned about the future of their jobs and we have told them that few procedures have to be followed.”

The minister however said that a testing of skills of workers will obviously be there and they will be offered employment which is negotiable depending on their experience and depending on their understanding of the assignment that they are going to be engaged in.

She said that the government want to ensure that the 108 life-saving service matches the promises made.