Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.

Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.

The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.

The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

NPP in talks with PDF MLAs over merger

National People’s Party (NPP) National President and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma have informed that discussions with the two legislators of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for merging with the party are on.

“Discussions will take place but as I said there is no final conclusion or anything yet. Therefore, we will wait and see when the time comes,” Sangma told reporters today.

Currently, the PDF has two MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin M Mylliem- in the assembly.

If the proposed merger takes place, the strength of the National People’s Party will increase to 28 in the current 59-member House.

Earlier, Lyngdoh, who is also PDF working president had said, “Talks are on to merge with the NPP. We will take a call at the right time.”

Talks are on to merge the People’s Democratic Front, an ally of the ruling coalition in Meghalaya, with the NPP ahead of the May 10 poll to Sohiong assembly seat where election was adjourned in February, a PDF leader said on Thursday.

When asked, Lyngdoh said he cannot say anything further as decisions will not be taken by him alone.

Dry days declared in Sohiong

In view of the adjourned poll to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of East Khasi Hills district has declared May 8, 9 and 10, 2023 as dry days.

This is on account of these being the pre-polling and polling days. Also May 13 has been declared as a dry day on account of being the day of counting of votes.

This order is applicable in all areas falling under Sohiong (ST) Assembly Constituency.

One-day ASI camp held in Umiam

A one-day camp on Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)-2021-22 was held at RNB Carbide &Ferro Alloys, Umiam on Tuesday for sensitisation and to enable self-compilation of ASI return through ASI web portal by the industrial units covered under ASI 201-22.

The camp was organized by the National Sample Survey office, Field Operations Division (NSSO(FOD)), Regional Office, Shillong, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation(MoSPI), Govt of India and about 20 industrial units around the Umiam Industrial Estate participated the camp. This is the second time such camp has been organized in recent times.

NSSO, FOD is responsible for conducting a large-scale survey in diverse field across the regions. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is one of India’s principal sources of Industrial Statistics. It provides statistical information to assess and evaluate, objectively and realistically the changes in growth composition and structure of organised manufacturing sector comprising activities related to manufacturing processes, repair services, gas and water supply and cold storage etc.

This survey also provides the one of the important inputs for calculating Gross domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

The survey is being conducted annually under the statutory provisions of collection of Statistics (COS) Act, 2008 (as amended in 2017) and the rules framed there under in 2011.

While addressing the camp, N. Mohondas Singh, Joint Director & Regional Head, NSSO(FOD), RO Shillong stressed the importance of ASI data in calculation of GDP of the country and appealed all the units for self-compilation and timely submission of the returns. He informed that the defaulting units could be prosecuted as per rules framed under Statistics Act 2008.

He further stated that this is the 2nd Camp organized in recent times to enable self-compilation and ensuring submission of ASI returns of the units. K. Jana, Managing Director, Riangdo Veneers thanked and appreciated the initiation of NSSO(FOD), RO Shillong for organising such important camp.

He further appealed to all the units to give more importance in submission of ASI returns timely like any other filing of returns viz, GST, Income Tax etc. The meeting was also attended by M Nongrum, Asst Director and other senior officers of NSSO (FOD), RO Shillong.

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