Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the office memorandum (OM) is out on implementation of the roster system and is final.
Sangma told reporters that the question of going back does not arise.
He was responding to a query on the indefinite strike called by the ACHIK demanding the government to implement the roster system retrospectively and the winter capital in Tura, West Garo Hills District.
"That (OM) has been final and question of going back into it does not arise," Sangma said while reminded that the government had already consulted every stakeholders before the coming out with the new OM.
He said that the ACHIK was also present in such meeting.
"(However), what is important is to ensure that the roster system is properly implemented in letter and spirit in the coming days, months and years and that's what is crucial for us and that's what we are looking at," he said.
The chief minister said past appointments that were made against individuals who belong to other communities cannot be terminated as itis not practical and not realistic.
On the demand for winter capital, Sangma said it is a long pending demand and these are all related to economic development.
"I have maintained from day one that every demand that comes in this aspects are related to economics and certain communities in the society do feel that by getting a winter capital, the development aspect will come in. So it is one of the ways that development is expected to come to a certain part or region," he said.
Stating that the government is ensuring that development is spread across the state, the chief minister said for the first time, mini secretariats will be set up in different regions of the state which include Tura, Jowai, Pynursla.
"These mini secretariats when they come up act as a unified and consolidated kind of integrated administrative complex which is like a mini secretariat and different departments will function from there," he said while adding "Hence, these kinds of big administrative reforms and administrative infrastructures are coming up and as we move along based on the development that is there examination of different aspects can be looked into but this is a process and it takes time and we are working towards it but we will see a lot of economic activities taking place in the different regions of the state."
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the government is still waiting for some more names for the appointment of the chairperson of the expert committee constituted for reviewing the state reservation policy.
Sangma told reporters that only one name has come for appointment of the chairperson.
"Therefore, we feel that the names should be a bit more broad so we are waiting for about 3-5 names so that the government can examine. Once we get the names for the chairperson we will bring it to the cabinet for its decision," he said.
He informed that the government has received multiple names for appointment of other members of the expert members.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) Shella Area Unit along with residents of Shella and other villages today burn the effigies of MePDCL and the state government to protest against the failure of the providing electricity in the region.
This protest is to condemn the state government and MePDCL in their failure to provide electricity despite continuous reminders from the HYC and the village’s head who from time to time had sought the intervention to provide electricity in the region.
Speaking during the protest, headman of Shella village Readerforce Sarubai urged the HYC members to follow up with the state government with regard to no availability of electricity in the region which has caused problems to the people especially the student community.
HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said that the continuous blind eye by the state government and MePDCL towards the demand to provide electricity in Shella region indicates that the state government wants to see that the people should live their life in darkness.
“This issue is not new in Shella region despite continuous demand from the HYC but the state government and the MePDCL continue to turn blind eye which has affected the people especially the student’s community. We will continue to pursue the state government and if it continues to turn deaf ears, we will resort to other means of protest” said Synrem.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: The three autonomous district council - Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Wednesday unanimously decided to pass a resolution to oppose the move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting here in Shillong, chief executive member (CEM) of the KHADC Pyniaid Sing Syiem said that in the meeting, all three autonomous district council have decided to write to the Law Commission and the central government to express opposition on the move to implement UCC in Meghalaya.
Syiem said that till date the autonomous district councils in Meghalaya have not received any written plea from the Law Commission with regard to suggestions that can be incorporated in the proposed UCC.
“We have prepared a draft resolution which will be signed by all autonomous district councils and this resolution will be sent to the Law Commission on 14 July 2023 expressing our opposition to the proposed implementation of UCC in the entire country including Meghalaya” said Syiem.
Syiem said that apart from expressing opposition to the UCC, the autonomous district councils of the state will also incorporate few suggestions in the resolution which will be sent to the Law Commission and the central government.
“In the resolution, we will be incorporating suggestions as to why all the autonomous district councils and the people of Meghalaya stand opposed to the idea of implementing UCC in Meghalaya” he added.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the High Power Committee of the GHADC R.K Sangma informed that the GHADC had already passed a resolution to oppose the implementation in Meghalaya.
“Prior to the passing of the resolution, the GHADC had held meetings with all stakeholders including the Nokmas and NGOs from the Garo Hills region” said Sangma.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: Justice (retd) BP Katakey has visited Garo hills for an inspection in the illegal coal mining Area Nongalbibra South Garo Hills.
Talking to reporters, Katakey said he received complaints about some activities in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya that is why he went for personal inspection.
“I have also received complaints about some activities in this part of Meghalaya that is why I have come for personal information.” Katakey said.
Welcoming the step taken by the state Government with regards to scientific mining, he said in garb of scientific mining, illegal mining activities cannot be allowed.
“Scientific mining is always welcome, definitely no court will come in the way of mining provided there are requirement of law is complied with as you know the Mine and Mineral Development and Regulation Act lays down certain norms those norms are to be fulfilled, it’s the Good thing that I have been told that the Government of Meghalaya has already started the process,” he said.
He further said if the miners get licences under MMDR act with compliance of all the requirements then there is no problem in mining.
“In garb of scientific mining, illegal mining activities cannot be allowed; hopefully the Government will continue the drone survey because I have also directed the Government to do the drone survey which the government did to find out the extract of illegal mining because as on date there is no legal mining in the state,” he added.
He further said that in his six reports submitted to NGT, he has recommended an investigation and inquiry regarding the illegal export of coal to Bangladesh without valid documents. Justice Katakey said he has asked the state Government about the steps taken in this regard.
“I have already asked the Government about the steps taken and I am expecting a reply from the state Government within a week,” he said.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 13: Congress chief Vincent H Pala has predicted that the BJP will be thrown out of power in 2024.
“Everybody now be it in Delhi or any part of India could foresee that in the next election, it will be a non-BJP government at the Centre,” Pala told reporters after chairing a meeting of MPCC.
Stating that there is a lot of problem within the BJP, the Shillong MP said, “The fighting within the BJP is more than the fighting of the opposition among themselves.”
He also alleged that BJP is losing control over big cities in the country like Delhi, Karnataka, Chennai and others.
“Many of the areas in the big cities, they (BJP) lost their control and even nationally they will lose their control this time.”
Earlier, CLP leader Ronnie V Lyngdoh informed that the party has decided to gear up its preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and MDC elections in the KHADC and JHADC by strengthening the organization at the grassroot level.
Expressing confidence to retain the Shillong parliamentary seat, Lyngdoh said, “We are very confident of retaining the Shillong seat. We have our MP, we are hundred percent sure that we will retain the seat.”
“If you look at the other two states' elections - Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka - where the prime minister, the home minister and the president of the BJP spend weeks and months campaigning but they were defeated because you cannot take the voice of the people for granted. We are very certain that even within the entire country this will be the same result,” he added.
“We will also try our best to get the Tura seat for the party,” Lyngdoh said while informing that applications will soon be invited from aspiring candidates and based on the winnability factor, tickets will be accordingly allotted.
He also expressed confidence that the party will also win more seats in the upcoming ADC elections in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.
Meanwhile, the CLP leader informed that the party has also decided to highlight the failures of the BJP-led NDA government at all levels.
“The economy has slid to such a level where it will take years for it to bounce back to the level in the previous years. You look at employment, it is the highest in the last 45 years, we have not had this kind of rate of employment,” he said.
He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not having the time to call for peace and harmony in the state of Manipur, which only shows his insensitivity towards the NE region.
“Hundreds of people have died, thousands have been displaced from their place and the PM doesn't have the time to even say a few words to request for peace and harmony in that state. It only shows how insensitive this government is. Their only aim is to win elections at any cost by any means without taking into consideration the human factor, without taking so many factors that are affecting the country, the common man,” Lyngdoh stated.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 9: Behdeinkhlam, a four-day festival of the Jaintia tribal or pnar people in Meghalaya concluded on Sunday amidst thousands of faithful taking part.
Revellers were seen participating in a ritualistic expression to overcome the destructive forces of nature including diseases and an invocation to God for a good harvest.
Considered as one of the important festivals of the State, it is celebrated during mid-July every year after the sowing season is over.
"Khlam" means ‘Plague or Pestilence’ and "Beh Dien" means to drive away the plague with sticks and religious fervor.
The main feature of the festival is the making of the "Dein Khlam" and "Khnong", which are rounded, polished and straight tree trunks, felled from a forest. These trunks are brought to the Jowai town, a district headquarter in the eastern most part of the state, with great fanfare.
Earlier today, the 'Symbud Khnong' a log of great length was brought which thousands people throng to get a chance to touch it.
It is believed that by touching the Khnong, it will protect them from all sorts of sicknesses besides prosperity in their works and businesses.
According to the niamtre faithful, Behdienkhlam is not all about driving away sickness but to also drive away such social evils that are inflicting the society.
The youth from different locality of the town also try out their artistic skills by erecting gaily coloured "rots" 10-40 feet tall structures built of bamboo, coloured paper and tinsel.
The Behdienkhlam ‘rots’ are built on wide ranging social issues – politics, environment protection besides others.
The rots were on display today at the Aitnar – a sacred pool.
The rots also carries strong message for preservation and protection of the environment and the mother earth besides importance of combating social evils.
Interestingly, a rot which captivated the spectators was on the issue of job reservation. The messages in the rot named "jobs" read - "Rectify the roster anomalies or revamp the 1972 resolution", "I was born intelligent but the present roster ruined me" and "Many deserving candidates have been deprived their jobs by the existing policy".
There was also a rot which has a message on it on preserving the environment which read "the future is in our hand" , while another has on it a message which says "technology has changed the way book publishing works, as it has changed everything else in the world of media."1
The climax of the celebrations is the carrying of a large trunk known as ‘Khnong’ by the niamtre faithful to Aitnar.
People would run towards the Khnong to touch it as it is believe that by touching the Khnong it would bring them good health and prosper in their work and economic life.
Religious rites and sacrifices at the sacred pool precede the immersion ceremony in the early hours of the morning.
The festival was also witnessed by Governor Phagu Chauhan, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court Sanbjib Banerjee, Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla, opposition VPP legislator Adelbert Nongrum and others.
In the evening ‘datlawakor’, a football match played with a rounded wooden ball, is played between two teams from the upper and lower valleys of the Myntdu River.
The side that wins is believed to be blessed with a good harvest of the year. The Daloi or the traditional chief acts as referee in the match.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 9: TMC youth leader Richard Marak has stated that it is unacceptable that Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma has repeatedly claimed that education is a top priority for the government, yet the state continues to rank at the bottom of the Ministry of Education's Performance Grading Index.
This is a clear indication that the NPP led MDA government has failed to deliver on their promise to prioritize education, Marak said in a statement issued today.
He said the MDA government must be held accountable for their inaction and lack of commitment towards improving the education sector.
It is unacceptable that students in Meghalaya are suffering due to the government's negligence and failure to provide high-quality educational opportunities.
"We demand immediate and decisive action from the government to address the challenges facing the education sector. This includes increasing funding, improving teacher training and support, and promoting greater community involvement in education," Marak said.
"The future of our state depends on the quality of education we provide to our students, and the government must deliver on their promise to make education a top priority in Meghalaya," he added.
Staff Reporter
Nongpoh, July 8: The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) has called upon the Superintendent of Police, Ri Bhoi district asking for more attention by police on the border areas under the district.
This demand was made when members of the HNYF, led by Assistant Secretary, HNYF central body, Edward Thangkhiew, along with the Northern Region Secretary Edilbert Nongrum, Raid Nongtung Circle Vice President Barnabas Lyngdoh and others met Giri Prasad the Superintendent of Police Ri Bhoi district.
This also comes in the wake of complaints made by border residents of border villages including Khlieh Umwang, Umlaper, Sabuda in Raid Nongtung Block II, stating that they have been facing hardship in receiving police assistance and also in filing FIRs.
He also said that the organization also receives complaints that whenever the residents of border villages go to lodge their complaints in any police outpost, they never find any police personnel and sometimes only one personnel but their FIRs are not registered all the time.
The HNYF called the attention of the SP to this problem and also demanded that the state government enhances the strength of the police force in these areas.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 8: Cabinet minister heading the committee of all political parties Ampareen Lyngdoh has asked the Voice of the People Party (VPP) not to engage unproductively in the issue related to state reservation policy.
She was reacting to a statement of the VPP on the request of the committee to all political parties to submit their observations with regards to the state reservation policy based on which members of the expert committee will be appointed.
The chairperson of the committee said that the VPP can always submit its observations to the chief minister’s office, her office and the law department adding that the matter was also discussed in the last meeting convened by the committee with all political parties.
“Nothing that we are saying which is new so let us not engage unproductively as if you engage unproductively, you are missing the point. They may not recognize the committee of political parties that I head, it is okay, it is for them to understand that if they don’t recognize us no problem but we have been authorized and that was the term of reference,” she said.
“So it is okay, one political alone doesn’t want to submit. You kindly submit to the office of the CM because if you want to get the job started we have to start somewhere. That is the point I am making,” Lyngdoh further added.
