Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 18: Cabinet ministers are waiting for the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to brief them on the proposed visit to Delhi for pursuing with the Centre on the two resolutions passed by the State Assembly for implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

“We will wait for the chief minister to brief us and we would definitely like to see that these matters do not keep hanging fire and that the public should not have the impression that we put them on cold storage,” Cabinet Minister and Spokesperson of the MDA government Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters.

Lyngdoh said, “ILP is something which we have discussed again and again. There are legislative actions taken, there are also governmental actions also taken. The MRSSA was also passed. It was also amended and it was also accepted. I think we need to have these parallel movements. Let us not be too rigid,” adding “If ILP is something which is said to get done then I don't think there is an alternative because it is a government of India matter you have to get consent from the government of India and they are ones who are in authority to actually serve the agreement or the nod for the ILP to be implemented in the state of Meghalaya.”

She also asserted that the public should know for a fact that there are certain matters because of the federal structure of the country that we are all a part of and that you have to conform to certain requirements and procedures.

On language issues, the minister said that they have been told that there are few steps that the government needs to take and those steps are being taken.

“You need to ensure that you qualify on so many accounts and I think it is an indigenous language. Even CM is already propagating that certain examinations should also start being done in our local languages. If you want there is no disparity of language as disparity of language is a very big deterring factor for aspiring students and I would also agree with the CM, we can have a NIIT and a CUET in our own languages. This is something which we will continue to fight for and I think we are not only the state and many states are also waiting in line. We will work on it and keep highlighting to the Government of India,” she added.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 18: Cabinet minister and spokesperson of the MDA government Ampareen Lyngdoh today said the demand for a winter capital should not be entertained.

Lyngdoh told reporters that Meghalaya has a very divergent combination of districts and if everybody is going to be rising and saying bring the winter capital here, bring the spring capital there, bring the summer capital there then it is all going to go wrong.

“It would be not correct to consider any kind of capital anywhere else. We are in Shillong, it is the capital and we hope that these demands should not be entertained. That is my personal view because we will be in trouble if every district starts saying "bring this to my district bring that to my district it will be difficult for us to administrate,” she said while commenting on the indefinite hunger strike in Garo Hills demanding a winter capital in Tura.

“The very fact that ministers are going all the way to various parts of the districts with that one intention, we can come to your district, we review your matters, take care of the matters and be there to make sure that you do not feel left out in governance but we can't have summer capital there, winter capital there, spring capital there, autumn capital here, it is not possible,” Lyngdoh added.

The spokesperson also reminded that the very fact that so many blocks have recently been installed and put in position, the basic idea is to bring administration closer to the public.

Stating that she is just looking at things from a practical perspective, Lyngdoh further asserted, “If you are going to have capitals everywhere then I think the administration will miss the point.”

Meanwhile, she informed that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will be meeting the leaders of the ACHIK and GSMC when he visits Garo Hills on July 24.

“I am sure that some sense will prevail and some understanding will be there as a result as we are trying our best to take the blocks to the people. When you say a block office that is when you know the presence of administration in that block otherwise we are going to have a big problem. We are not going to be able to control these demands,” she stated.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 18: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today informed the government has set up a state committee for the evaluation of medicines to be disposed of.

This came after the recent incident where lakhs of expired medicines were dumped at Marten.

Lyngdoh told reporters that the inquiry into the incident is on. "I am yet to receive the report of the inquiry," she said.

"However, we have installed a committee for evaluation of medicines to be disposed of to ensure the disposal of medical waste and bio-waste is handled correctly by government agencies," she said.

According to the minister, there were no committee in place and no authority to ascertain the expiry of medicines.

"There was no pollution control to make sure that the procedures were followed accurately but henceforth we will adhere to these mandatory requirements because bio-wastes and medical wastes are very important and we need to as a government to also adhere to prescribed norms," she added.

Lyngdoh said that the committee has been asked to strictly follow procedures.

The health department, municipal board, pollution control board, drugs controller authority and others are members of the panel.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 18: Cabinet minister and spokesperson of the MDA government Ampareen Lyngdoh has asked anti-railway groups to do a case study on Mendipathar railway station and its impact on the tribal communities in Garo Hills region.

"Whoever is opposing to railways should at least go to Mendipathar and do a case study and find out whether or not this influx has happened  or whether or not there is a dilusion of tribal communities there," Lyngdoh told reporters today.

"I haven't embarked on a study as such but I know a lot of their produce and products are now being transported far more efficiently and at a lesser cost," she added.

The minister was reacting to a query on the recent opposition against the government's move to conduct a feasible study to connect East Jaintia Hills with railway connectivity.

Stating that the MDA government will not do anything which is anti-people, Lyngdoh said, "We have to have a community that is ready for any development.

Whether or not the government will take further action to expand its railway connectivity in the state, I don't know maybe the Garo Hills is ready. So the region that is ready will get it first and the regions that are not ready and are resisting will obviously we don’t want to go against anybody's wishes because at the end of the day we are a government for the people and by the people."

"Therefore, we are saying wherever we have an operating railway head let us go there and find out the impact assessment study means that go to that place, go to that railway heads and find out the pros and cons, the negative and the positive," Lyngdoh said.

"Whether or not it is also possible to have I know technology has advanced greatly but if you notice every other hill station has one railway track and that is usually a tourism project, it is very rarely a lifeline for that hill station. Look at Shimla, Darjeeling, they continue to only be tourism project but let us see whether this works but Mendipathar is doing very well I am told but it is just that I have not engaged actively but from hearsay lots of our produce and products are going across at a much cheaper rate, technology and other exchange activities are also now coming to Garo Hills much quickly," she said.

Refusing to comment any further, the spokesperson said, "We have to have set missions, we need to focus ourselves. You cannot just blindly say no this is something you should not do or you should do.  But if you ask me to comment I will not comment any further because you have as always a divergent view of the public. There will be those for railways and there will be those who are against railways."

"So every issue we will have this diverse approach so I am not just going to comment at this point in time but to my knowledge the Mendipathar railway station is bringing a lot of positives for Garo Hills but we also have other challenges in this part of the state. We don’t have enough low lying land, we have high hills, we have inconvenient topography whether or not it is going to be achievable is something again which needs to be seen," she added.

She further assured "no government will go ahead and do anything as we are governing for whose benefit, it is for the people's benefit. Why would we go against the people's wishes?"

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today informed that the second phase border talks with Assam was postponed due to the delimitation process in Assam.

“Due to the delimitation process in some parts of Assam, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had requested to shift the date of the meeting by the end of this month” said Sangma.

Sangma informed that a joint official visit at Khanduli West Jaintia Hills by both chief ministers was supposed to be this weekend but due to the delimitation process that is going on in some parts of Assam, the date has been postponed till the end of this month.

“So we will be visiting Khanduli but in the meantime other chairmen and committees are conducting exercise” he added.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: The state government today decided to keep on hold imposition of the odd-even system on public transport vehicles plying from Kachari point towards Khyndailad and Motphran areas.

The decision was taken after taxi drivers had parked their vehicles at Shillong civil hospital junction as a mark of protest against the odd-even system. This has resulted in massive traffic jams in the entire Shillong city.

After chairing a review meeting, deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said, “We have taken a decision that this order of odd-even will be immediately kept on hold. The government will again sit to review all details before taking the next step.”

He also assured, “Whatever decision to be taken, it should be for the interest of everybody and every citizen of the state of Meghalaya.”

Earlier, taxi drivers were refusing to move their vehicles despite requests by the district administration. There were also heated arguments with the police and magistrates.

Speaking to media persons, president of the East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association (EKHLTWA) Wandonbok Jyrwa alleged that the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi had taken this decision of imposing odd-even without consultation with local taxi drivers who earn their livelihood through ferrying passengers in these three areas.

"How are we going to fulfil our needs in the family when we are allowed to ply only 15 days in a month? Do our children eat only 15 days in a month?” the drivers asked while engaging in heated arguments with the police and magistrates.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: The state government has revoked the order restricting the opening of shops, food stalls, restaurants and enterprises up to 10 pm in and around Shillong city. However, it has decided to modify the order which will now restrict opening of such businesses in three identified areas of Shillong up to 11.30 pm.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong to review the law and order situation in the state capital.

“We have identified three places where we need to further strengthen the policing system. Opening of shops in these three places will be restricted up to 11.30 pm,” Tynsong told reporters.

The three locations include Hotel Assembly point up to Wards Lake via Oakland road, whole of Polo Hills, Umkaliar, Quinton Road and Eee Cee Restaurant up to Jail Road petrol pump.

“Instructions have been given to the district administration as well as to IGP to strengthen and ensure these places will be totally safe for everybody,” he said.

The decision also came after strong opposition from several quarters including Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh against the order of the government and district administration of East Khasi Hills to restrict opening of shops beyond 10 pm.

They have criticized the government for its decision to clamp entire Shillong under section 144 CrPC due to a stray incident arising out of a scuffle between two groups of people and the subsequent torching of police vehicles at Laitumkhrah police station.

Stating that law and order in the state capital is very good and it has tremendously improved, Tynsong said that there is not much to worry.

He assured that the police department along with the district administration will ensure peace and tranquillity and safety to all citizens of the state as well as tourists coming to the state.

Further, the deputy chief minister has informed that the government has decided to augment the manpower of the state police.

“We have decided that augmentation will take place immediately. The manpower as far as Shillong city is concerned cannot be compromised. This will ensure that people who are staying in Shillong and tourists or anybody who comes to Meghalaya should feel safe and feel homely and they can eat wherever they want and whatever they like,” he said.

When asked, Tynsong said that the shortage of manpower in the police department is huge.

“The shortage comes to around 2,000. Therefore, we have taken a decision to fill up all these vacancies at the earliest possible,” he said.

He said that the government had just completed the recruitment process where about a thousand plus appointments will be issued very soon within this month. The second phase of recruitment for 1500-1600 posts will also start very soon.

With regards to the recent attack on cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh’s residence, Tynsong said, “But let me tell you be it that incident in police station or incident at minister’s residence, the law will take its own course and we will not allow such incidents to reoccur again.”

He however said, “It doesn’t mean just because the residence of the minister was attacked or because the police station was attacked means there is no law and order. There is and now whatever happened that midnight where ultimately unknown miscreants burnt police vehicles and again a person, who may be mentally not that stable attacked the minister’s residence but what happened was police was already there and arrested him and now investigation is still on and will see what next to be done.”

The deputy chief minister further informed that police are on the job to nab culprits behind the arson case at Laitumkhrah police station. “I don’t need to deliberate much on this issue but you will know who the real people involved sooner or later,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills RM Kurbah has informed that the earlier order which directs opening of shops, food stalls, restaurants, enterprises is restricted up to 10 pm in and around Shillong city has stands cancelled.

Kurbah said in partial modification to the office order dated July 10, opening of shops/food stalls/restaurants/enterprises at Hotel Assembly point up to Wards Lake via Oakland road, whole of Polo Hills, Urkaliar, Quinton Road and Eee Cee Restaurant up to Jail Road petrol pump is restricted up to 11.30 pm

Any violation of the said order will attract penal provisions under Section 188 of the IPC, she added.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge District Council Affairs (DCA) Prestone Tynsong has informed that experts from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and state’s community and rural development department will help the three autonomous district councils – KHADC, JHADC and GHADC to install separate portals as mandated by the government of India.

After chairing a meeting with the CEMs of the three ADCs today, Tynsong said, “We have taken a decision and most likely by next week, these experts from ministry and also from department rural development will go to all three ADCs and help them how to install the portal which are mandated by the government of India.”

He said that the matter was relating to the recommendations made by the 15th Finance Commission for implementation of the various schemes by the three district councils.

According to him, as per the guidelines from the ministry, without the portal funds cannot be released to the three ADCs. The ADCs have to update every village in the portal.

However, the decision to assist the ADCs was taken after they were facing a very tough time as they could not open the portal. So now, the experts will spend one day in each of the three ADCs to assist them in the creation of the separate portal, Tynsong added.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: Deputy Chief Minister-in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the Government of India, state government and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) are very serious about taking the peace talks to its final conclusion.

“Let me tell you again that the government of India, state government and HNLC are very serious about this talk and we wanted to make sure that we reach the final conclusion,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said the official talks have already started and the government is still waiting for certain processes (to be completed) as per the last talks that have happened.

On HNLC’s demand for amnesty, the deputy chief minister replied, “As I said because the official talks has just started so please be patient with me no need to ask this question because the talk has just started so let the talk be over.”

On June 24, the HNLC had conveyed its demand to drop all criminal cases registered against its leaders and cadres while asserting that amnesty is needed to take the peace process forward during the first round of peace talks held with the Centre and State governments.

The outfit’s representative and HNYF president Sadon K Blah had then said, “We have discussed today on the need to open the door for the peace process to move forward and (to do this) the government should consider granting amnesty by waving all criminal charges against the HNLC leaders and cadres.”

He had said the outfit is seeking amnesty on cases registered against its leaders and cadres by both Centre and State governments.

There is only one case registered and chargesheeted by the Centre’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) against top leaders of the HNLC which include its chairman Bobby Marwein and general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, July 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that the Government has shifted its focus from scheme driven approach to a purpose-driven approach to address the challenges and problems for the growth of the State.

“Our Government has started to look at things differently, not just scheme based implementation. We are assessing the impact of the schemes and our intervention, as we understand that change in the mindset and the way we look at the problems differently, will ensure that we address the concerns,” he said while speaking at the Meghalaya Education Symposium 2023, being organised by Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya.

“The biggest change that is needed in our State, or any other State for that matter, is the change in the mindset, the change is the mindset is the most important change that will move and take our society forward,” he emphasised.

He further highlighted the significance of adopting a holistic perspective that encompasses education, health, and well-being throughout a person's entire lifecycle, while designing programmes and interventions in the education sector.

The Chief Minister affirmed that education, health, and well-being should not be confined to the school setting alone. "It starts from conception of a child to the first 1000 days, early childhood, adolescence, and finally adulthood. Therefore, a holistic and purpose-driven approach is what we follow, and this marks the government's commitment to doing things differently."

“The Meghalaya Education Symposium 2023 serves as a testament to the government's commitment to revamping the education sector and embracing innovative approaches. By fostering a purpose-driven mindset and putting students at the center of decision-making, Meghalaya aims to become a trailblazer in transforming education”, he added.

Referring to flagship MOTHER programme, he informed that Meghalaya is pioneering a program that integrates health, education, rural development, and social welfare to prioritize the well-being of the mother and child. This unique approach places the spotlight on the stakeholders who play a crucial role in shaping the future of education.

Reflecting on past practices, Chief Minister Sangma acknowledged that decision-making in education often revolved around politicians, teachers, and managing committees, rather than prioritizing the students themselves. He emphasized the need to rectify this oversight, remarking, "We forgot along the way that it is the students for whom we are doing all this, and maybe this is where we went wrong."

He also informed that as a Government, several interventions have been taken in the past few years, to revote and construct Government school infrastructures across the State. “Our decision should be based on what is good for the student. Though politicians, teachers and managing committees are important, we should not forget that we are here to serve the students,” he said.

He assured that the decision made in education will be based on what is good for the child. “We need to slowly in a phased manner start transiting into a child and student focussed approach”, he added.

The Meghalaya Education Symposium 2023, an event organized by the Education Department also commemorated the 50th year of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE). The symposium was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Education Minister Rakkam Sangma and Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.

During the event, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries felicitated the toppers of the SSLC and HSSLC board examinations. Swapnil Bhattacharya, UPSC CSE 2022-23 rank holder was also felicitated during the event.

“Over the past 50 years, MBoSE has played a pivotal role in providing invaluable services to the children and youth of Meghalaya. Despite the numerous challenges, MBoSE remains dedicated to continuously improving the education sector,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Education Minister Rakkam Sangma said, "NEP 2020 has been crafted with the aim of transforming India into a prominent knowledge hub. It is a shared objective of both the Central and State governments to showcase our potential in propelling the nation forward. While we do face challenges, we must stay one step ahead by embracing emerging technologies and adequately preparing our children for the future."

Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said, "It is imperative that we provide equal opportunities and access to education for all students in our state. Through education, we can alter the perceptions of our students and the general public, encouraging them to move away from a narrow-minded mentality."