Sanjay Jaju takes charge as Secretary, Ministry of I&B

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Feb 5: Sanjay Jaju has today assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

He is a 1992-batch IAS officer from Telangana cadre. Upon his assumption of charge, he was welcomed by outgoing Secretary, Apurva Chandra and other officials of the Ministry and various media units. Apurva Chandra has been assigned the charge of Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Jaju has earlier served as Additional Secretary to Government of India from 2018 to 2023 and Director, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited from October 2014 to March 2018.

He has served as Secretary to Govt of Andhra Pradesh (Electronics, IT and Communications Department) from May 2011 to October 2014.

Ronnie backs use of paperless proceedings in Legislative Assembly

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Feb 5: Leader of Opposition Ronnie V Lyngdoh today said that he is on board with the use of the National eVidhan Application (NeVA) to make the proceedings of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly seamless and paperless.

The Opposition Leader received training today on using the application by officials from the IT Cell of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat at the Conference Hall of the Administrative Block of the Meghalaya Assembly in Khyndailad, Police Bazar.

Lyngdoh expressed his appreciation to the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma, and officials of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat for initiating the implementation of the National eVidhan Application. He emphasized that this initiative can play a meaningful role in environment conservation.

He also pointed out the efficiency of the Application as it can be used to submit questions and notices anywhere on the go.

It may be mentioned that the application hosts a secure page for each Member of the House for submitting questions and other notices.

NeVA, deployed on the NIC Cloud MeghRaj, is a workflow system designed to facilitate the smooth conduct of House proceedings by the Chair, and conduct Legislative Business in a paperless manner and assist Hon’ble Members of the Legislative Assembly to carry out their duties in the House.

NeVA is a device-neutral and member-centric application created to equip them to handle diverse House Businesses smartly by putting entire information regarding member contact details, rules of procedure, list of business, notices, bulletins, bills, starred/unstarred questions and answers, papers laid, committee reports etc. in their handheld devices/ tablets and equip all Legislatures/ Departments to handle it efficiently. NeVA will completely eliminate the process of sending out a notice/request for the collection of data.

Umiam wetlands home to 155 water birds

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Feb 5: There are over 155 water birds found in the wetland areas of Umiam Lake, Ri Bhoi District.

This was as per the Asian Waterbird Census, 2024 conducted by the Meghalaya Forest & Environment Department through the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Khasi Hills Wildlife Division Shillong in Collaboration with The Meghalaya Biodiversity Board on February 2.

The exercise was simultaneously conducted at Umsaw, Umbir, Umniuh, Mawlyndep & Umiam covering the wetland areas of Umiam Lake, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya with the support and guidance from professionals.

H Lato, IFS, DFO Social Forestry Division, M Kharsyntiew, MFS, Assistant Conservator of Forests, from NGOs like Aaranyak (Dr) Dipankar Lahkar and Pranjal Deka, experts from Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (Dr) E. Khongwir and (Dr) S Dey also participated in the programme.

During the exercise about 155 numbers of water birds comprising of 13 species.

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC). This citizen-science programme supporting the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide is done yearly between January and February, wherein, volunteers across Asia and Australasia visit wetlands in their country and count waterbirds. It works in partnership with many existing national waterbird census programmes.

This day is also celebrated throughout the world as “World Wetland Day ” and the census was carried out to also commemorate this day to protect and preserve the pristine wetlands which act as a habitat for this avian life every year during their migration period. Through the exercise, it has been observed that the Umiam Wetland acts as an important habitat for this avian life.

Meghalaya CM underscores importance of the youth

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Feb 5: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma felicitated the Sports Achievers of Meghalaya Games 2024 and Khelo India Youth Games 2024 at a function that was held at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. Also present during the occasion were Minister of Health & Family Welfare etc Ampareen Lyngdoh and Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Shakliar Warjri.

During the felicitation function, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, congratulating the achievers, said that the achievements and laurels brought to the state must be celebrated. “This week is an important week and throughout the week we will be celebrating our youth in Sports, Entrepreneurship, and Music and every activity we are having this week is connected to the youth,” he said.

He further informed that the idea of felicitating and recognizing the achievements of the youth is to project them as Icons and Motivators for others. “I want to tell the youth who are here today that you have an important and responsible role and it is not just about winning a medal or getting an award but becoming exemplary and role models,” he said.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the MSOA, the different sports associations and the Sports department for their contribution towards the success of the Meghalaya Games. “There were challenges but every year we are ensuring that the games become better and we overcome the challenges,” he added.

Congratulating the Football Team that had won the cup in the Khelo India Youth Games the Chief Minister said that the team has made the State proud and added, “They have come out as champions and this only goes to show the kind of talent that we have and what we can achieve if we are focused and determined,” he concluded.

Earlier, Minister, of Sports & Youth Affairs, Shakliar Warjri reminded the athletes to use the Cash Award wisely to further their skill and talent in the Sports they have excelled.

“We as a government acknowledge the hard work that you have put in to win the medal but this is not the end, aim to achieve greater heights because you are the future of our state,” he said.

Later the dignitaries distributed Cash Awards to medal winners in different disciplines.

Indian Army invites youth of Meghalaya to join as Agniveer

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 27: The Indian Army has invited online applications from the youth of the all districts of Meghalaya for selection as Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. The window for online registration will commence from the first week of Feb 2024 onwards. The recruitment will be carried out in two phases.

(a) Phase –I. Online Computer Based Written Examination (Online CEE) will be conducted at selected centres in the State.

(b) Phase-II. Recruitment Rally will be conducted for selected candidates (shortlisted) who make it to the merit list in online Common Entrance Examination.

The candidates can register online on Join Indian Army website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in where they can check their eligibility criteria and create a personal profile. The candidates on successful filling the application will be directed to SBI portal through a link on the website to make payment of Rs 250/- plus bank charges as applicable. The payment can be made through various payment options like Debit/Credit cards, online banking of UPI. Candidates will be required to have an active email & mobile number which will be used for further communication by Indian Army. Candidates will have to select five choices for the exam centre. Candidates will need to enter Aadhaar number in online application and are therefore are advised to link Aadhaar to their mobile number. To provide candidates practice on online CEE as per their category, a category wise link has been provided on “Join Indian Army” website. Candidates are advised to carry out practice at least once before appearing for actual CEE. Animated videos on “How to Register” & “How to Appear for online CEE” are also available on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. The helpline numbers of Army Recruitment Office Shillong are 0364-2504177, email: rohqshillong@gmail.com. Candidates can also raise any kind of query on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in for necessary clarifications.

Dalu, Asiragre under grip of African Swine Fever

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 6: The state government has declared Dalu and Asiragre villages under Dalu Block in West Garo Hills District as ‘epicenters’ of African Swine Fever.

This was based on the test result of pig tissue samples dated March 30, 2023, regarding confirmation of the African Swine Fever outbreak in Meghalaya by the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) Guwahati vide letter dated March 31, 2023, Secretary in-charge AH & Veterinary Dr Manjunatha C said in a notification issued today.

As per the National Action Plan for control, containment and eradication of African Swine Fever published by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, the restrictions are applicable with immediate effect in the villages under 1 (one) a kilometre radius surrounding infected premises (epicentre of disease) designated as “Infected Zone” and in all villages falling under 10 KM radius surrounding infected premises (epicentre of disease) designated as “Surveillance Zone”.

Restrictions in the Infected Zone:

The notification said there shall be no movement of pigs, genetic material, meat, feeds, equipment, veterinary medicine from Infected Zone into Surveillance Zones and Disease-Free Zone.

All equipment/supplies associated with pig should not be moved out of the pig sheds/pig farms in Infected Zones.

The pig farm owners and pig handlers shall maintain hygiene and bio-security in pig farms and restrict entry of people into farm premises.

There shall be restrictions of the movement of people to the infected premises.

There shall be a complete prohibition of the movement of pig handlers from one pig shed to another.

Vehicles shall be allowed to move out of the infected zone only after cleaning and disinfection.

If pigs are swill-fed, the source of the swill feed should be traced for identification of other possible contact premises.

No person is allowed to take out any pig alive or dead which is infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever.

No person is allowed to take out any pig feed or bedding materials or other materials namely carcass, skin or other parts or products of such animals which has come in contact with any animal infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever.

The carcasses shall not be allowed to move out of the infected premises and shall be disposed of in the infected premises itself.

In case of exception where carcass disposal is not possible, the transport of carcasses should be undertaken by the agencies under the control of the District Veterinary office following strict biosecurity protocols and using leakproof vehicles.

The dead pigs should be should be disposed of by deep burial with sufficient lime cover only and not thrown in rivers/canals/streams/water bodies.

After the carcasses have been disposed of, the premises and any potentially contaminated vehicle and equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected under the supervision of the Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

Preliminary disinfection of infected premises should be carried out under the direction and supervision of Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

Secondary disinfection shall be carried out by the owner in accordance with the direction of the Veterinary Officers/Rapid Response Team (RRT).

Contaminated feed, slurry, swill, bedding, farm waste products, litter in infected premises shall be disposed of by deep burial.

There shall be a complete ban on the slaughter of pigs and the sale of pork and pork products in the Infected Zone.

Swill feeding (kitchen and restaurant waste) of pigs is prohibited.

Pig markets and abattoirs in the infected zone should strictly be closed down.

The District Veterinary Officer and RRT shall take steps locally to ensure that everyone in and around the infected zone is made aware of the restrictions and requirements in force there.

Local institutions such as Municipalities, village Dorbars, Dolloi, Headmen, Nokmas etc, shall assist the Veterinary Officers/RRT in the discharge of their duties and take necessary measures to prevent the outbreak or spread of disease as provided under Section 30 of the Act.

Whoever places or causes or permits to be placed in any river, lake, canal or any other water body the carcass or any part of the carcass of any animal which at the time of death was known to be infected with ASF, shall be guilty of any offence and on conviction, be punished in the cases of a first offence with a fine of two thousand rupees or with imprisonment of one month in case of non-payment of fine and in case of subsequent conviction with a fine of five thousand rupees or imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with both as provided under Section 33 of the Act.

Under Section 40 of the Act every Competent Officer, Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department and Veterinary Officer while exercising any power or performing any duty under the said Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.