Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 2: Tura MDC and State Vice President Bernard N Marak and members of BJP distributed food in Tura.
The BJP team also visited Mother Teresa charity home, leper colony and the TB hospital on Saturday evening. They also took note of various difficulties faced by the families at leper colony.
The annual report of the TB hospital was also reviewed. The team decided to provide help to the leper colony as most of them are not receiving rations from the government.
MDC also assured to adopt some TB patients under Nikshay Mitra. Nine years of Modi government have made so much change to the people at the grassroot level. BJP team will ensure that there is no lapses in providing the best to the public, Marak said.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 2: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has decided to soon submit its views to the Law Commission of India on the Centre's move to implement the uniform civil code (UCC) in the country.
"We are finalising our views on the UCC since the Law Commission is asking for views and suggestions from individuals and stakeholders across the country," UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said today.
He said that the last date for submission of views has been fixed on July 14.
"We are sitting as a party to give our observations with regards to the UCC and we will let you know what is the stand of the party," Mawthoh said.
Stating that the UCC is a contentious issue, the former Nongthymmai legislator said, "We need to understand as far as the threat to secularism, the threat to minority rights and also religion. We need to understand the pros and cons of the UCC. We are yet to understand as to how this UCC is going to apply especially to us the ethnic minorities in the context of the tribal communities of the North East."
"There are a lot of things going on across the country so we need to deliberate as without understanding the pros and cons how can we say anything," he added.
Meanwhile, the UDP state youth wing will also organise an inter-college debate competition on the UCC at the party office on July 12.
"We are going to discuss the UCC as we want to sensitize the youth community and also create awareness amongst the society as a whole as it is important to know, debate and deliberate," Mawthoh informed.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 2: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is yet to decide on whether to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections next year.
"When the party meet we will discuss. It is only when we come together as party leaders we will be able to decide (on this). As of now, we have not taken any decision as far as the MP election is concerned," UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said today.
Asked if he would again contest from the Shillong parliamentary seat, Mawthoh however said, "I have not taken a decision as of now. The party will have to take a decision on this."
Mawthoh was the consensus candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government from Shillong in 2019. He was defeated by sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala.
"I managed to get up to 34 per cent vote share. I got 2.67 lakh votes. Had it not been for that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue, I would have won the MP election last time," he said.
"In 2009, Pala got 48 per cent vote share. In 2014, (his vote share again) dropped to 33 per cent and we thought in 2019 he will surely go down to 19-20 per cent but instead it shoot up due to CAB-CAA issue," Mawthoh said adding that his name being linked to BJP-back MDA has affected his prospect to win the last MP election.
"In fact, I really had wanted to be in parliament to flag and articulate the issues of the state," he added.
As far as the autonomous district councils in Khasi and Jaintia Hills are concerned, Mawthoh said that the central executive committee of the party had entrusted the core committee to workout the preparation for the ADC elections in the state.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 2: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has lodged a complaint against the shoddy repair work of the road from Mustoh to Shella village in East Khasi Hills District.
In a letter to the Assistant Executive Engineer of PWD (Roads) Shella Sub-Division on Saturday, HYC Shella Area Unit vice president B Natep said that the members of the Council had conducted an inspection after receiving complaints from the general public and found that the road, which has just been repaired recently, is now damaged because of the shoddy repair works.
The road has developed potholes and this has caused a lot of inconveniences to the general public using this road.
He also urged the department to direct immediate repair of the road.
"The thickness of the blacktop should be as per the work order," Natep said.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, July 2: The Meghalaya health department has informed that the medicines which were disposed of at Marten on June 29, had expired due to non-utilisation during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Director of Health Services (MI) said that the medicines disposed at Marten, Mawiong Shillong are expired medicines.
The medicines had been indented as per the demand of the various districts and health institutions across the state.
The medicines were accordingly procured and distributed to the concerned district and health institutions.
A part of the medicines procured were stored in the Central Medica Store so as to meet any immediate demand which may arise as an emergency.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic these medicines were stuck in the Central Medical store as there was no immediate demand then.
"The medicines had expired due to non-utilisaton during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The expired medicines were needed to be disposed as it was taking up a lot of space in the store which was causing great inconvenience as newly indented medicines have to be accomodated," the statement said.
On this, the Pharmacist in-charge, Central Medical Store Directorate Health Services (MI) had informed vide letter dated May 27, 2023 for disposal of the expired medicines at the earliest, it said.
The list of expired medicines is certified by the Appropriate Authority.
The Assistant Drugs Controller, Directorate of Health Services (MI) vide letter dated June 19, 2023 had communicated to the Pharmacist in-charge Central Medicine Store for disposal of the expired medicines with Appropriate Authority, the statement also said.
The Pharmacist in-charge had then communicated to the Appropriate Authority for appropriate disposal of the expired medicines which was carried out on June 29, 2023, it added.
On June 29, lakhs of expired medicines amounting to crores of rupees were dumped at Marten dumping ground.
The incident came to light after leaders of the Meghalaya Awaken Council Citizens (MACC) followed municipal trucks, which were loaded with the outdated medicines, while they were coming from Polo area.
Some of these expired medicines include Escitalopram tablets IP 20 mg, Sodium Valproate Gastro-resistant Tablets IP 200mg, Cefotaxime Sodium Injection IP, Citalopram Tablets IP 10 mg.
Terming the incident unacceptable, MACC leader Banshai Marbaniang said, “Time and again, we are hearing that people especially in rural areas of the state are complaining about the problems they faced due to inadequate supply of medicines to the PHCs and CHCs but here today we are seeing that lakhs and lakhs of medicines including tablets, drips and others are being dumped here in Marten. It is an irony and this is totally unacceptable.”
Correspondent
Nongpoh, June 27: At least six members of a family including a child were injured after being struck by a lightning strike last evening at Umsohlait village under Ri Bhoi District.
The incident took place at around 3 pm in a locality of Dong Kimheh under Umsohlait village, as a result, the six were seriously injured and the house was reduced into ashes.
The injured person was identified as Johnsing Lynshing (29), Martha Shadap (55), Driamizaca Shadap (4), Banaibor Lyngdoh (20), Kyrshanborlang Mynsong (11), Banraplang Khongsam (5) and Kristina Mynsong, who is the owner of the house.
Following the incident, all the injured were sent to Mawhati PHC for medical treatment and were later referred to City Hospital in Shillong for further treatment.
Meanwhile, all the property and assets that were damaged in the lighting strike has been estimated to be around Rs 3 lakhs.
Correspondent
Nongpoh, June 27: A woman was found lying dead on the pool of blood while her husband, who alleged attacked her, was found lying on the same spot with brutal injuries. The incident was reported occurred at 5 Kilo Kyrdem Kulai in Ri Bhoi District.
According to the information from the police, on the night of 25 June, 2023, the police were informed that a couple identified as Bina Sunar and Keshab Sunar were found lying in a pool of blood in their residence in the village.
The police soon reached the scene of crime, where the medical attendant declared that the female (the wife of alleged accused) had already passed away, but the male person (husband, alleged accused) was still alive and was shifted to the Umsning CHC for medical treatment and examination, and was later referred to Civil Hospital, Shillong.
The deceased was shifted to morgue room of Civil Hospital Nongpoh for further medico-legal formalities into the case.
The elder sister of the accused filed an FIR at Nongpoh Police Station and a case has been registered in this regard.
The police as part of its investigation, has seized the alleged weapons of attack, and carried out a post mortem of the victim, before handing the mortal remains of the deceased back to her family for the last rites.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, June 27: Opposition VPP legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum today that the roster system is in conflict with the reservation policy.
“Since the Roster is in conflict with the Reservation Policy, either make right the Roster system or revamp the Resolution dt 12.01.1972,” Nongrum said while submitting his objection and recommendations to the new Office Memorandum (OM) on the reservation roster issued on June 14.
He said in guideline ‘A. Quantum of Reservation’ the OM provides for reservation of ‘posts’ whereas Resolution dt 12th January 1972 decided on the reservation of ‘vacancies’, so the Roster is in conflict with the Reservation Policy.
Nongrum also demanded that the clause – “No gap shall be left in completing the roster” should be re-inserted in the guidelines.
“In guideline ‘B. Principles to be followed in the preparation of Reservation Roster’ at para B.4. the essential clause – “No gap shall be left in completing the roster” has unreasonably been deleted,” he said.
He further said that valuable effort has been put up by various Govt. departments/offices since the past one year to compile data of recruitment from previous years, and the details of backlog reserved vacancies have surely been accounted for.
“What happens now to this information? If deletion of the clause “details of backlog reserved vacancies” is to be made, then in accordance with para 2 of the Resolution dt. 12.01.1972 provision should be made to indicate in the Remarks column of the Reservation Roster wherever a reserved vacancy has been filled by a candidate from another category because the suitable candidate was not available in that particular year, and such filling of vacancy should be separately accounted for in the Reservation Roster Register,” the MLA added.
Nongrum also said that at the District level or Sub-Divisional level, the whole combined reservation of 80 per cent to the Khasi-Jaintia category should not be restricted to just Jowai and Shillong but likewise be made available in the whole of Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, June 27: In a major move aimed at improving traffic management in the bustling city of Shillong, the Meghalaya Police will soon submit a proposal to procure drone technology to tackle traffic congestion.
Providing information on this, Director General of Police (DGP) of Meghalaya, Dr LR Bishnoi said a team of traffic police personnel are sent to secretariat for training and following which the procurement of drones will start.
“CM has held a meeting regarding this traffic congestion problem particularly in Shillong town and he has suggested the use of drones, so that we can monitor the congestion points,” DGP told reporters in Shillong.
While stating that the state police are yet to procure drones, Dr Bishnoi said, “Today I am sending my officers, a team of traffic officers. They will go to the secretariat where the drone is already functioning, they will understand how we can use that for the monitoring of the traffic congestion points.”
“Little bit training is required and once they are through after the training, we will start using it, first we will procure the drone as per our requirement for that proposal is under consideration, hopefully soon we will be able to procure that,” he added.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, June 27: The Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) has served a 7-day ultimatum to the state government for immediate ‘retrospective’ implementation of the reservation roster.
In a statement issued today, ACHIK President Thomas M Marak said, “Today, we are issuing an ultimatum to the Meghalaya Government, demanding immediate and decisive action to implement the Roster System retrospectively in all public sector organizations, departments, and educational institutions.”
“We humbly request that you respond to this ultimatum within 7 days from the date of this letter with a clear and actionable plan for the retrospective implementation of the Roster System. This response should outline the specific steps your government will take, along with a timeline for their execution,” he added.
He said that failure to heed this ultimatum will have serious consequences for the government’s reputation and the trust placed in it by the people.
Stating that the state government has a duty to rectify historical injustices and ensure equal opportunities for all citizens, Marak said the retrospective implementation of the Roster System is not a mere suggestion; it is a constitutional mandate that cannot be ignored.
He also stated that the ultimatum serves as a rallying cry for the government to act swiftly and decisively, upholding the principles of justice and equality that form the bedrock of our nation.
“The continued denial of opportunities to marginalized communities will perpetuate social inequality and hinder progress. The citizens of Meghalaya will not stand idle while their rights and aspirations are disregarded,” he added.
Further, Marak said that the retrospective implementation of the Reservation Roster and backlog policy is important for several compelling reasons.
“Let’s explore why this aspect holds significant value: Addressing Historical Injustices: Marginalized communities, such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), have long faced discrimination and social exclusion. The retrospective implementation of the Roster System allows for rectifying historical injustices by providing these communities with equitable opportunities that were denied to them in the past,” he added.
