Demand for resolution against UCC turned down

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: The Meghalaya government today turned down the opposition’s demand for passing an official resolution to oppose the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on the ground that the Centre is yet to come up with a Bill on the matter.

The resolution to oppose the UCC was moved by an opposition Congress legislator from Mawhati Charles Marngar and supported by members of the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and Voice of the People Party (VPP) in the Assembly.

In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the State government is very much against the concept and idea of the UCC as it goes against the idea of India which is ‘diversity’.

However, the government cannot just pass a resolution prematurely without knowing the content of the UCC Bill.

“The question arises that can we as legislature oppose or pass a resolution without knowing the content of the UCC Bill. Outside the House, we can speak on the basis of what we think may happen but as a legislature today if we are to oppose the UCC, the first thing we need to have in front of us is the UCC Bill,” Sangma said.

He said it doesn’t mean just because other States have done it, Meghalaya too should pass a resolution. “That is why, we need to apply our mind. Therefore, it is only when we see the UCC Bill then we take a stand as a government,” he added.

Further, the chief minister also assured that the House will stand united to oppose any move by anybody including Parliament to dilute the identity, rights, culture and practices of the indigenous people of Meghalaya.

“If there is any proposal in the proposed Bill to dilute the practices of the tribal in terms of religion, marriages and inheritance, the State government and the Assembly will never agree to it,” he stated.

He informed that the matter was also discussed in an MDA meeting on how to proceed on the issue.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also informed that the State government will soon submit its views and suggestions on the UCC to the Law Commission.

“We have fixed the time where the Cabinet will go through the suggestions, which will be in line with that the state will oppose it if there is a move to dilute our practices,” he stated.

Satisfied with the reply of the chief minister, Marngar decided to withdraw the resolution.

“Since I now understand the mind of the government that the government is also concerned about the UCC, I beg to withdraw this resolution. And I hope that the CM, the Cabinet and all 60 members that when the Government of India is going to implement the UCC in our country that time, I hope all of us will stand together and fight together and pass a resolution to oppose the UCC,” he said.

No violation of Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act: CM

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: The resolution moved by the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit demanding a stop to the gross violation of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1972 was defeated by a voice vote in the Assembly today.

“The Nos have it and the resolution is lost,” Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma said.

The resolution was put to vote after Basaiawmoit announced his decision not to withdraw the resolution citing dissatisfaction with the government’s reply.

Basaiawmoit said there is a violation of the Act, but the government is in a denial mode that people not covered under the Land Transfer Act are rampantly buying land in Ri Bhoi district.

“How can they purchase land when they are not residents of Meghalaya? What will the government do against such people and stop them from purchasing land in Ri Bhoi district?” he asked.

He also asked the government to issue a public notice on the definition of tribal.

In his supplementary reply, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said there has been no violation of the Land Transfer Act. “All cases (related to) non-tribal have been based on provisions of the Act,” he maintained.

Sangma further said that any individual can go to the Court if they have concerns that there is a violation of the Act.

“(Because) we have not seen any cases put forward and those cases where the court had given orders, the government has implemented those orders,” he added.

The chief minister also assured that the government will definitely examine the suggestions made by the members on how to strengthen the Land Transfer Act further.

Earlier while moving his resolution, Basaiawmoit had sought to know ‘what action has been taken against those people who are involved in the selling away of our land to the people who are not covered by the Land Transfer Act, especially the Syiem of Raid Myrwet who have voluntarily engaged in this illegal act. Moreover, what action will be taken against those Deputy Commissioner who are willingly registering these lands which are in direct contravention to the provision of the law’.

Earlier, Minister in-charge Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla in his reply said that it is clear that the government while processing any case of transfer, mutation, mortgage, will etc, proceeds as per the provisions laid down in the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act 1971 (Act 1 of 1972) and the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Rules, 1974.

“As of now, no such matter of the gross violation of the Act has come to the notice of the Government,” he said while adding “I would like to impress that the intention of the government is very clear on the matter of transfer of land and that the Act and Rules are followed in letter and spirit, so as to protect the interest of the Scheduled Tribe of the State.”

VPP opposes appointment of MSCTE secretary

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) today opposed the government’s decision to appoint A Ali as a full-fledged secretary of the Meghalaya State Council of Technical Education (MSCTE) after her retirement.

Moving a short-duration discussion on the issue in the Assembly, VPP legislator from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit alleged favouritism in the decision to appoint Ali as secretary of the MSCTE since she had once forgone her promotion to the challenging post of principal Shillong Polytechnic.

He said the number of Secretaries on dual charge till date are six (these include: Dr R.N Hazarika (Addl. Director), H.W.Tham (HOD Electrical), R. Dhar (JDHTE/Addl. DHTE), P. Karmakar (JDHTE/Addl.DHTE), O. Ropmay (JDHTE/Addl.DHTE) and A. Ali ( JDHTE/Addl.Director)

He said there were three HODs who decided to forgo their promotion as Principal in the year 2012, for not willing to take up challenging task and these are: Bhattacharjee HOD Electrical, S. Sinha HOD Mechanical and A. Ali HOD Civil Engineering.

Subsequently, the government had to appoint W L Warjri who is the HOD Electronics but junior to them in terms of seniority.

Basaiawmoit said interestingly both S Bhattacharjee (retired) and A Ali served as HODs in Shillong Polytechnic under the Principalship of W L Warjri before they were transferred to the Directorate as Deputy Director respectively.

In 2018, the government decided to appoint A Khongphai, M Kyndiah and SP Basaiawmoit as Principals of Williamnagar Polytechnic, Tura Polytechnic and Jowai Polytechnic respectively.

Basaiawmoit alleged that however in 2019 the government promoted A Ali to the post of Joint Director and this action on the part of the government deprived WL Warjri of the post of Joint Director in DHTE and this has created a wrong precedence in which a Principal who have a field experience of institutional Administration was prevented from getting the post at the Directorate.

“Moreover, the same person who was promoted to the post of Joint Director in 2019 was again promoted to the post of Additional Director thereby superseding three Principals namely, A. Khongphai, M. Kyndiah and S. P. Basaiawmoit which is a clear indication of favouritism on the part of the higher authority to a person who had once forgone her promotion to the challenging post of Principal Shillong Polytechnic,” he said.

“Again the name of the said person appeared when the government announced its decision to appoint her as the full-fledged Secretary of the MSCTE after her retirement. The question now is how this person can surreptitiously manage to reach to the level of Additional Director despite her failure to show an amount of responsibility to serve the department in any given situation. And now she has prepared a post for herself after retirement. Is it justified for a person who had forgo a promotion to avoid responsibility to be rewarded with such a post? Is this not discrimination against our own people?” he asked.

The VPP legislator further added, “I fail to understand why have different governments in Meghalaya choose to create this kind of environment among the officials where some are given favour and others are not. Have we ever thought what kind of situation we are putting those who are being deprived by this stepmotherly treatment of the government to its own people?”

Demanding the government to take corrective steps on the matter, Basaiawmoit said, “People outside are saying that the Britishers had ruled over us and we are forcefully made to accede to the dominion of India and now after we had attained our Statehood, we had expected that Lyngdohs, Sangmas, Marbaniangs, Kharkongors, and others would govern us. However, unfortunately, we are now landed up being ruled by Kumars. There is a saying that there will be no smoke without fire, therefore it is for the government to take serious note of this perception which may be right or wrong. The government should be reminded that it is being judged by conscious citizens for every action. Therefore, I strongly feel that the government should find time to rectify its mistake.”

Negligence led to baby’s death: Nongrum

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum today sought to know on the action taken against the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills for granting permission for a fishing competition, which caused a traffic snarl that led to the death of a newborn baby at Pamphyrnai in Ksehkohlong village.

Moving a zero-hour notice in the Assembly, Nongrum said, “What action is being taken against the DC of West Khasi Hills for granting permission to the Fishing Competition without carrying out responsibility to ensure law and order, and against the SP of West Khasi Hills for allowing police personnel to be engaged by the organizers in prize distribution while being absent from traffic management and crowd control.”

He said on September 16, the baby had to be delivered without medical assistance inside a passenger vehicle by the pregnant mother, as their vehicle was unfortunately stuck in a 3-hour long traffic jam caused by double-side parking along the road and the unruly crowd not giving way to traffic during an unregulated fishing competition organised at Pamphyrnai lake, West Khasi Hills.

Nongrum said that the district administration was found guilty of negligence in issuing permission without taking responsibility in maintaining law and order, and District Police personnel seen being engaged in prize distribution while noticeably absent in controlling crowds and vehicles from obstructing the traffic flow on the busy Shillong-Nongstoin highway alongside the fishing competition venue.

The legislator further asked the government whether future events of fishing competitions, not just in West Khasi Hills but in other districts as well, can be put on hold till such time that a proper regulation can be made by legislation, so that no more untoward incidents should occur that put a danger to the health and safety of general public.

“Is the Government apprised of the adverse impact of the Fishing Competition, held almost every Saturday, on the weekly earnings of rural households, who are being addictively attracted to prize money of around 50 lakhs in total for each event, while having to shell out 2000 to 3000 rupees as entry fees … and of which perhaps zero amount goes towards Government revenue,” he said.

Govt assures to extend Assembly sessions by 2-3hrs daily

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.

Mental health of trafficked survivors matters!

Varalika Mishra

Pallabi Ghosh says, “Mental health is critical as girls and women are constantly stigmatized, their family don’t even understand the trauma they went through, and there are severe consequences.” Born and raised in Lumding, Assam, Ghosh has rescued over more than 7,000 girls and boys from trafficking. According to her, trafficking greatly impacts the individual’s mental health. She has rescued hundreds of women and children from child marriage, forced marriage, child labour and prostitution. “Trafficking is a heinous crime. Most people get lured into it for a job, marriage, or love. They are innocent people who do not realise the consequences of what they are getting into. They come from vulnerable areas of remote India. My work focuses on post-rescue rehabilitation, where we counsel trafficking survivors and monitor them constantly for behavioural issues. Every 15 days, I analyze their physical, social, and psychological status and gradually reduce the frequency once we see healing. Just rescue doesn’t ensure recovery,” she adds.

According to reports, most girls die by suicide due to the discrimination they face after being rescued. According to Pallabi, the real work starts post-rescue as that is when a supportive environment needs to be provided to the survivors for holistic development, and it is not an easy job to implement. Pallabi is the founder of Impact and Dialogue Foundation which helps in implementing various workshops for the survivors and in sensitizing the system about trafficking.

Impact and Dialogue Foundation provides destigmatization workshops for the members of the system, like families, social welfare officers, police, and other stakeholders, ensuring that they look at the survivor with dignity. It is crucial to realize that survivors are not responsible for getting trafficked in society. “I need much assistance in making people understand that trafficked survivors must heal and reliving the stories repeatedly through different types of questioning by the media and courts further aggravates their pain,” says Ghosh.
Impact and Dialogue Foundation creating a difference

“Our work is creating a difference. We have girls coming up sharing their stories, being a part of the policy and decision-making process, are a part of our stitching centres, along with kitchen gardens and self-help groups. They earn some money which gives them empowerment. We conduct vocational training and arrange for the survivors to learn computer skills and English-speaking courses to build their confidence further. We drive various workshops to help them get skilled and represent themselves in society,” adds Pallabi. With Impact & Dialogue Foundation, she aims to create awareness about trafficking of all forms. Contact +91-9811737441, Email- impactdialoguefoundation@gmail.com for any assistance.

Refrain from creating social media groups with party name: VPP

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has urged people to avoid creation of social media groups in the name of the party without the permission from the office of the party.

In a statement, VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said the party expressed its happiness for the growing support of the people who in the last few months a few have become enthusiastic to create different social media groups including WhatsApp groups using the name of the Party in one way or the other.

“However, it is strongly advised to avoid the creation of any social media group in the name of the Party without the permission from the Office of the Party,” he said.

He also said this advisory is issued in view of two reasons: first is the necessity to maintain strict discipline within the Party and second is to pre-empt the efforts of any anti-party element from creating confusion and division within the party and also to malign the image of the Party.

“It is strongly expected that such unofficial social media groups, if there are any, should be deleted and no new group should be created,” the party spokesperson said while adding that the party shall not take responsibility for any untoward incident arising from such unofficial groups.

“It is expected that the decision of the party is respected,” he added.

VPP presses home demand for special session of Assembly

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has sought Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s intervention in convening the special session of the State Assembly to allow members to discuss and debate on the need to review the state reservation policy.

In a letter submitted to Sangma, VPP general secretary Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon said, “We request you as the Head of the Government to take initiative in convening a special session of the State Assembly in order to allow members to discuss and debate on the need to review the present reservation policy.”

He said the vexed and pertinent issue on the roster system and the state job reservation policy that is indeed a serious and grave matter of concern across the state that warrants a serious debate, discussion and resolution.

Furthermore, Dr Syngkon said that the Bench of the High Court in its order on PIL dated April 3, has categorically stated, “These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with the law.”

VPP decides to move for special Assembly session

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has decided to submit a petition to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the matter pertaining to the issue of implementation of the roster system and the state job reservation policy.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee after the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court that the decision for a cut-off date or how far back the roster system would be made applicable was left at the discussion of the State Assembly.

ALSO READ: KSU for prospective implementation of roster system

Informing this, VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said the party has also decided to organise public meetings in the different districts or sub-division headquarters to enlighten the public on the impact of the implementation of the roster system without bringing the much-needed review of the job reservation policy.

Also, the Party in such meetings will elucidate the importance of creating resistance against the attempt to impose a one-language policy in the country marked by diversity and also on the criticality of inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India, he said.

Meanwhile, the VPP appealed to the citizens to attend public meetings. The dates of the public meetings will be announced at a later date.