Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today informed that the government is waiting for the proposal from the police headquarters for setting up of the police commissionerate.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “We have instructed the police headquarters DGP to work out everything and to send the proposal to the government. So we are waiting for that.”
He said that the new recruitment process is almost completed. However, there are few issues as some changes are needed in the recruitment board rules.
“Ultimately I have to take it to the cabinet and hopefully the cabinet will also approve a few changes in the rules which need to be made and once that is done we will go for advertisement and we will complete the whole process of recruitment,” he said.
He said that the next recruitment will be for a minimum 2,500 personnel.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Over 2,16,336 vehicles including two wheelers have been registered with the district transport officer (DTO) in East Khasi Hills.
Of these, 5136 are local taxis.
Data made available by the DTO, EKH said permits were also given to 630 green taxis and 26-35 pink taxis since 2009.
The office of the DTO had not issued any new permit for local taxis to ply in the district.
There are over 1804 buses registered with the office.
According to the data, there are 119853 of private vehicles and 91345 two-wheelers registered with the DTO.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy chief minister incharge PWD (Buildings) Prestone Tynsong today chaired a review meeting and informed that new building of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at Mawdiangdiang will be completed by August 2024.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “We have reviewed everything and now the work is in good progress and I am sure they will be able to complete it as per the targeted date made by the government and that should be on or before August 2024.”
Tynsong said that construction of the new dome will also start very soon.
“Now, in fact they have cleared all the debris and the foundation is already in full swing and now they have already also ordered the prefab items and very soon it will reach the site and they will start installing all those,” he said.
The deputy CM said, “Additional cost due to the collapse is not there at all but the additional cost on the basis of additional items but I don’t have right now all the details because we need to again discuss in the high powered committee because now my review meeting is only with the PWD builidngs and the contractors and also the PMC.”
He also expressed confidence that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly may have its first sitting in the new building in the next autumn session.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), inaugurated and adopted the Solar Street Light Project for four villages of Mawjrong, Dympep, Laitsohpliah and Sohrarim in the East Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya.
Located at a distance of 28 to 40 km from Shillong, on the picturesque highway to Sohra, the four villages are inhabited by people mainly belonging to the Khasi tribe.
Addressing the august gathering, Agarwal expressed satisfaction that CGST and Customs Zone have taken the novel initiative of providing solar street lights having low maintenance and various lighting adaptability features to conserve energy. Agarwal also appreciated the efforts of zone in implementing the project within 14 days at a cost of approx. Rs. 9 lakhs right from the conceptualisation stage.
Addressing the gathering, Sohra MLA, Gavin M. Mylliem said it is a matter of pride and happiness for that Chairman CBIC visited Sohra and thanked CBIC for providing solar street lights to the four villages.
Headman, JP Kharkongor conveyed gratitude on behalf of all residents, acknowledging the challenges faced by small villages with limited amenities. With a focus on agriculture and catering to tourist demand, these solar street lights are poised to enhance safety and convenience for both residents and visitors. The solar lights, placed at vital points identified by local authorities, are expected to benefit the residents in each village.
Being small villages with a population of about 600 people each, many amenities are still lacking and these people have to work hard for their living. The people are mainly involved in agriculture and eateries to cater to the tourist demand. The village is on route to the popular tourist destination of Sohra. They are well connected by road but there is a lack of street lighting on these stretches.
The office of the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Shillong under Guwahati Zone, as part of the Swachhta Action Plan under Special Campaign 3.0, has installed 49 solar street lights in these 4 villages at vitally needed points, as identified by the local village authorities. These solar lights would be highly beneficial for the inhabitants as well as help in maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the area.
This initiative by the Department will go a long way in facilitating these villages and help the villagers in their daily life. They will provide a sustainable and effective solution for the embellishment of the villages helping to further boost tourism and welfare for the people.
The Chief Commissioner of Guwahati Zone, Bandhana Deori; Pr. ADG, DGHRD, Rajeev Yadav; CCP (NER) Mahfuzur Rahman; R.K. Chandan, Commissioner, CGST, Guwahati and Dimapur; senior officers of CBIC and DRI, officers and staff from Customs, CGST & CX Guwahati Zone, officers of the Block administration, village authorities and people from these villages were also present in the programme.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 26: Deputy chief minister incharge PWD (Buildings) Prestone Tynsong today informed that the construction of the Meghalaya House at Aurangzeb road in Delhi will soon start.
Tynsong said the government has already got the sanction for the construction of the circuit house or Meghalaya House.
“Now, we are working out the necessary documents to invite the tender for construction of the new Meghalaya House at Aurangzeb road. The sanction amount is about Rs 30-31 crore,” he said.
Correspondent
Nongpoh, Oct 23: The Rangbah Shnong of Lumdaitkhla, Bhoirymbong ST Rympei has come down heavily over the spread of a voice recording of a conversation between himself and STIEH leader Purity Phawa.
Rympei has demanded an apology from Phawa within 24 hours failing which he said that he will be compelled to take drastic action by lodging legal complaints against her.
This demand was raised by Rympei after the spread of the voice recording of him talking with the leaders against the Cherry Blossom Festival which is scheduled to be held from October 17 to 19.
In this regard, Rympei said that STIEH leader Purity Phawa recently called him over phone at around 10 o’clock at night and discussed the decision to scheduling of the closing ceremony of the Cherry Blossom on Sunday that is on the 19 October 2023.
He also said that his discussion over the festival was recorded by the STIEH leader without his knowledge and now the voice record has widely spread over Khasi and Jaintia Hills. In this regard, he as the village head expressed concern over the action of the STIEH leader and demanded an apology within the 24 hours.
However, the Lumdaitkhla Headman also clarified that, the village authority has given permission to the organizers of the Cherry Blossom who sought an NOC to utilize the Kurkalang Stadium from October 25 till November 25 without mentioning that the closing ceremony will be held on Sunday that is on October 19.
He also said that, the NOC was firstly given by the representatives of the MCA and the RBDSA to utilize the Kurkalang Stadium, then after the NOC was given by the village authority. However, after learning that the organizers of the Cherry Blossom intend to wrap up the festival on Sunday, the Executive Committee has called on the organizers to clarify on the matter.
Rympei also clarified that the EC of Lumdaitkhla village has agreed to allow the organizers to wrap up the festival on Sunday after the organizers has agreed to start the closing day only after the end of all church services in the Bhoirymbong area.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 22: The North Eastern Hill University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) and NEHU Non-Teaching Employees Association (NEHUNSA) have resolved to form the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to save the University from alleged irregular acts of the incumbent vice chancellor Prof PS Shukla.
The JAC is headed by NEHUTA president Prof Lakhon Kma as its chairman and NEHUNSA president Dr. Wandondor R. Synrem as its co-chairman.
In a statement, the JAC said going by NEHU's rich democratic tradition of seeking justice and fairness, the JAC has been constituted as per Constitutions of both the statutory Associations of Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees in a meeting held recently and all issues of common concern are brought under its purview.
The JAC said it is open to all stakeholders who aim to share same concerns about future of NEHU and lakhs of students of Meghalaya, the North-Eastern region and beyond who are studying in NEHU and its affiliated colleges.
“It is expected that other stakeholders like MeTTA-NEHU, MCTA, NEHUSU & other student bodies, social and cultural bodies would join its ranks to mitigate serious irregularities committed by incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof PS Shukla so that institutional future of NEHU is not sacrificed at the irregular and unstatutory acts of the Vice-Chancellor by violating all established procedures, norms and ideals that NEHU has evolved in last fifty years,” JAC chairman Prof Lakhon Kma said.
He said the JAC in its extended meeting discussed issues like gross violation of NEHU Act, 1973 on too many occasions and correlated accumulated systematic violations of statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations by throwing into winds the rule-based framework within which NEHU is required to function.
“The primary motive of being autocratic, arrogant and abrasive on the part of the Vice-Chancellor lies in not adhering to collective wisdom of elected statutory bodies only to serve his ego by flouting all norms in the university. Indeed six years of previous incumbent Prof SK Srivastava's misrule represented the height of such foul acts. The present regime of Prof PS Shukla just started flouting and in no time, as all un-statutory activities lead, it resulted into serious violations in administrative and academic affairs of the University.”
“Keeping this in mind, the JAC listed issues like statutory violations, infringement of the University authority like the Academic Council, etc., non-adherence to democratic and well-established procedures of the University, non-functioning of University facilities such as Health Centre, labs. etc., delay in appointment in statutory positions-Registrar and Finance Officer and other officials like University Engineer and Director-College Development Council,” he said.
The chairman said the JAC also raised the urgent demand of filling up of all vacant non-teaching positions so that current stalemate in university's functioning is removed; present approach of tolerance to corruption and corrupt officials from last regime and present regime must be changed.
“Arbitrary and unilateral functioning of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor has brought in such immense damages to the very institutional functioning of the University. Inordinate delay in clearance of files, bills, non-delegation of powers and many such issues were raised as big concerns by the JAC in its meeting,” he said.
Prof Kma also informed that the JAC has decided to initiate immediate action on priority basis on issues like immediate convening of requisitioned academic council meeting to discuss four year undergraduate programme (FYUP) in colleges affiliated to NEHU, removal of Rohit Prasad within a week's time, who has been arbitrarily appointed by violating all rules by the incumbent Vice Chancellor for granting him high financial package and other undue benefits; relieving of the Section Officer from VC office and to pursue the demand that teachers and technical staff should not be used at all for administrative works which are not otherwise attached to their substantive posts.
“The JAC wishes that the incumbent VC Prof PS Shukla corrects the wrong course and brings the University back to its right course as per NEHU Act, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulation & Rules and the JAC shall pursue correction of wrong doings to the best of its ability in the interest of the University and the state of Meghalaya, being immediate stakeholder,” he said while adding that the JAC will impress upon all the stakeholders to pursue a line of democratic action to make the incumbent VC listen to million voices from Meghalaya and attend immediately to the call of accountability, the purpose for which he is appointed as Vice-Chancellor.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Oct 22: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has filed an FIR against the ragging incident at its Tura campus.
This was informed during a meeting held between the Naga Students' Union Shillong (NSUS), Angami Elders' Forum Shillong, Angami Students Union Shillong, NEHU Students' Union, and the Naga students of NEHU on October 16.
The meeting was also convened in the presence of NEHU representatives including Prof S.R. Joshi, the Registrar, and Prof Lucy Zehol, the Chairman of the Fact Finding Committee tasked with investigating the recent incident at NEHU Tura Campus.
In a statement issued here, NSUS informed that the Vice Chancellor of NEHU was unable to attend the said meeting owing to an emergency summons by the Governor of Meghalaya considering this case.
“…it was brought to light that the Vice Chancellor had already filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Tura Police station on 14th October, thereby entrusting the authorities with the responsibility of conducting a thorough investigation of this incident. Hence, this fulfilled a condition put forth in the charter of demands put forward by the NSUS on 11th of October, 2023,” it said.
Based on the requests made by the organizations, NEHU will hand over to the victim’s family documents which include – the FIR, report of the fact finding committee and a missive from the NEHU VC assuring that the university is resolutely committed to taking appropriate measures, in strict compliance with the UGC Anti-Ragging Laws, regardless of whether the police investigation will garner results.
“In earnest acknowledgment of the invaluable cooperation extended by the Tura Police and all the concerned authorities, the NSUS, ASUS, AEFS, NEHUSU and the Naga students of NEHU express profound gratitude, reposing trust in the expertise and confidence of both NEHU and Tura Police, that the guilty parties will be expeditiously brought to justice for their unlawful actions,”the statement said.
Correspondent
Jowai, Oct 22: Local MLA, Wailadmiki Shylla today inaugurated the Urban Health and Wellness Centre at Iawmusiang, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai
Speaking on the occasion, Wailamiki said the opening of the health centre in the market area is to ensure that both the local residents and visitors to the market area could have easy access to medical care. He encouraged the public to take advantage of the health centre service including meeting with doctors for counselling when needed.
Dr. K Dhar, Additional District Medical & Health Officer, Dr. M. Syngkon, District Surveillance Officer, IDSP, Dr. L. Pyrbot, Medical & Health Officer, Iawmusiang UHWC, Headman, elders and residents of the area were present.
Correspondent
Jowai, Oct 22: Members of the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) have called for Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh’s intervention in the setting up of a drug addiction rehabilitation centre to address the increasing cases of drug addiction which has been noticed among the youth of East Jaintia Hills district.
“The problem related to drug addiction is nothing new in East JaintiaHills District. But with each passing day our district has become one of the hotspots of drug users in our state and it seems like there is a surge in the graph of the number of people being drug addicts and the most horrifying part is most of them are teenagers,” JSU Khliehriat Circle president, Livingson Sama said.
“According to us, today’s kids are extremely stressed about their academics, sports and career. They have this constant necessity to worry about lagging in the competition,” he added.
The JSU members were accompanied by MLA Kyrmen Shylla who has taken up this cause raised by the students’ body and has instructed authorities concerned to identify a proper site for this rehabilitation centre in the district.
