State seeks Central aid to set up Anganwadi centres

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: The Meghalaya government has sought the Centre’s support for setting up of Anganwadi centres in over 1500 villages across the state.

Replying to a query raised by AITC MLA from Ampati Miani D Shira in the Assembly, Minister in-charge Social Welfare Paul Lyngdoh said, “We have already moved the Ministry of Women and Child Development for total coverage of uncovered villages.”

He said that the government will be in a position to set up Anganwadi centres in uncovered villages within the next 1-2 years.

He said the 1,500 uncovered villages are presently being taken up under the Early Childhood Development Programme.

The minister also informed that nine applications were received from East Khasi Hills alone for setting up of new main Anganwadi centres and 27 for mini Anganwadi centres.

Lyngdoh further informed that he will also convene a comprehensive review of the existing Anganwadi centres across the State in October. He also assured to look into the concerns of all members in regard to these centres during the upcoming review meeting.

Congress Mawhati MLA Charles Marngar had wanted to know what happened to the rice cooker given to Anganwadi centres with no electricity connection while Umsning MLA Celestine Lyngdoh requested the need to ensure water supply to the centres and Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui stressed the need to have a synergy between the social welfare department and the health department and education department for the proper development of the children in the state.

State Reservation Policy: Blunder of 50 yrs cannot be solved in days

United Democratic Party leader and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh today said a solution to a blunder committed in regard to the state reservation policy for the past 50 years cannot come in a matter of five days.

“It is also a fact that a blunder was committed 50 years ago so how do you resolve that? It is more difficult because it is an issue that has been festering for half a century so a solution will not come in five days. A blunder that has been perpetuated for 50 years cannot be resolved in five days in five weeks or even five months but let it be resolved bit by bit,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

The West Shillong legislator said, “Why are you saying that it is not a blunder. There are a lot of errors in the entire policy. For instance, giving space of two-three years for a post to be filled up means you are undermining, and compromising the quality of the administration. Now if an office has to have 12 staff members and because you have to wait for two years it means that the office is running short of staff for 2-3 years – that itself is a blunder.”

Admitting the danger if the reservation policy is being challenged, he said, “It is (dangerous) as there are a lot of intricacies involved,” while cautioning everyone that “we should not end up shooting ourselves in our leg, let us not inflict self-wounds.”

On the implementation of the roster system, Lyngdoh, who is also a spokesperson of the MDA government, informed that the MDA is going to meet at the end of this week or early next week to discuss this matter.

“The matter is also coming up before the cabinet and an All-party meet is also being called. So at these different platforms, we will get an exchange of views and I am sure the best of views will come forward,” he asserted.

Referring to the concerns expressed if the roster system is implemented retrospectively, Lyngdoh said, “That is a very valid concern so accordingly I will put my views across in the Cabinet that if at all  it has to be done it can be done only prospectively one, two you can take the matter up to the Supreme Court, three, the State Assembly has the option of legislation – so which of these options or which combination of these options will work best that is entirely up to the House and the Cabinet to decide.”

“Therefore, let it come up before the cabinet. Let a cabinet memo be prepared. I will study the memo and articulate my point of view in the cabinet but first let the cabinet memo be put up,” he stated.

On the other hand, Lyngdoh reminded that the UDP had in fact listed as number one on its manifesto a change of the reservation policy and said, “We fielded 46 candidates and only 11 of us won. Even if you only think of the Khasi-Jaintia sector, we won 11 out of 36, minus the 10 we fielded in the Garo Hills, so it means that the majority of the constituencies are not interested in any change of the reservation policy.”

He said it also means that 25 constituencies did not favour a change of the reservation policy adding “Even if you combine UDP 11 plus VPP 4 that will still make it 15 and 15 out of 36 is still not a majority.”