Staff Reporter

Shillong, Dec 1: The Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan ceremoniously flagged off the IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Van for the Urban areas under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from Raj Bhavan Shillong today. This initiative, originating from Khunti, Jharkhand, on November 15, 2023, dedicated to tribal areas, has now expanded its footprint to cover the entire nation covering both rural and urban areas.

In Meghalaya, the Van will cover urban localities across Meghalaya. This Yatra represents the largest-ever outreach initiative by the Government of India. Rooted in the vision of inclusive development, it has consistently aimed to ensure that the benefits of government schemes saturate every corner of the nation, achieving 100 per cent coverage. Each day, the vans will make two halts in prominent places, facilitating health camps, Aadhar enrollment, and other essential services.

Real-time data on ground-level activities, facilitated by Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) vans, is systematically captured on a portal developed by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 

The overarching goal of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is to raise awareness and facilitate the delivery of welfare scheme benefits, spanning sanitation, financial services, electricity, housing, and more. Highlighted schemes include Ayushman Bharat, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, PM Svanidhi and PM Awas Yojana, among others.

The Yatra signifies a significant stride towards realizing this objective through extensive outreach, information dissemination, and empowering citizens to actively contribute to the country’s development.

The programme in Raj Bhavan was attended by senior officials of the state government and officials from Health Department, Civil Supplies, MUDA Authority, District Lead Bank Manager and Shillong Municipal Board and Social Welfare. Later in the day an outreach programme was held near Polo in Shillong where different departments particpated. Certifcates were also distributed on the spot to beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) today withdrew its amendment motion to the allocation of time proposed by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for the current Assembly’s autumn session after the government assured to extend the session by 2-3 hours every day.

Earlier while moving his motion, Nongrum said he was unhappy on seeing the calendar as the allocation of 5 working days is too short, especially when the government convenes the Assembly only twice a year.

“And giving only 2 days to Private Members’ Business is not enough, when there are so many pressing issues concerning the state,” he added.

He said there are many important issues concerning the state which include ranking of the state as per national index on poverty and education is the lowest in the entire country, menace of drugs, student concerns on the National Education Policy (NEP), the cry of educated youth who are not gainfully employed, loopholes in methodology for state quota seats in MBBS, a parliamentary amendment to the Forest Conservation Act, disruption of environmental public hearing for expansion of cement factory in East Jaintia Hills, high handedness of police in public protests, continuing imbroglio on them metor and the question of funding for Shillong Cherry Blossom festival.

“So with deep concern I ask, can these burning issues and many more, which directly affect the common people of the state, be sufficiently addressed in just 5 days of House sittings? Why such an attempt to restrict the length of Session? What is the underlying agenda?… A short assembly session is nothing less than the murder of democracy.”

“(Therefore), I am of the opinion that allocation of time for Private Members’ Business should be extended to as many days as Government Business and that the Calendar for Private Members’ Business should not be scheduled on a Friday when House sitting concludes at 12 noon,” Nongrum added.

Supporting the motion, VPP chief and Nongkrem legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit said, “I feel it would be in the best interest of the people of the state that the House sitting is extended  for some more days and timing increase so that we can dispose of (the many) issues.”

He also reminded the government that the opposition is there to criticize the government constructively in order to take the State forward.

Replying to the motion, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs Prestone Tynsong said, “In fact that day when we had the BAC meeting, we had already discussed the details with all members and we fixed it for five days’ session.”

“(However) during the five days’ session, under your (Speaker) wisdom Sir we said we can extend (the session) to 2-3 hours, if necessary. So I calculated that if we extend 2-3 hours in five days, it will be more or less more than 1 day,” he added.

Agreeing that the issues to be raised are very important, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “The only point here is I would like to request especially from the opposition side, while submitting the issues, it would be appropriate if they sit down together (and decide).”

Tynsong said he has seen that be it questions, motions, zero hour notice etc., the issues are overlapping and the same subject members are submitting and replying (to the same subject) will lead to unnecessary wasting of time.

“So if they (opposition) have this kind of discussion, nothing like it. They can submit (the issues) where your office can regulate (the time accordingly),” he said while requesting the Speaker to approve the allocation of time proposed by the BAC.

Following the assurance to extend the time of the session, Nongrum also agreed to withdraw the motion of amendment.

The District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills Dr A Lyngdoh has admitted that there is shortage of medicines at present due to a transition of procurement of drugs in the state.

This was stated in an action taken report in connection with the treatment of typhoid fever cases at Shella PHC and Ichamati CHC sent to the HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem here.

This came after the HYC had written to the DM&HO for providing adequate medicines in the two health centres for the treatment of typhoid fever and to conduct investigation into the causes of such disease.

“There is a shortage of medicines at present since there is a transition of procurement of drugs from the state to the newly constituted corporation viz Meghalayan Medical Drugs & Services Limited (MMDSL). We are hereby submitting to the DHS (MI)/MMDSL the list of drugs that are required to combat the current crisis,” Dr Lyngdoh said in the action taken report.

She also informed that a team from the IDSP cell will be visiting Shella on April 28, to conduct an investigation for verification of the cases and identifying the source of illness.

A letter has been issued to all facilities including Shella & Ichamati to conduct awareness programmes on the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of the diseases, Dr Lyngdoh added.