Govt waiting on response from HNLC leadership

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the government is waiting for the response from leaders of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) before deciding on how to move forward with the ongoing peace talks.

“We are waiting for (HNLC’s) response. As and when we are able to get that response we will decide on how to move forward,” Sangma told reporters.

“As I said in talks like these we need to ensure there is movement from all the sections. All the stakeholders need to have a certain level of commitment to the whole discussion. Therefore, as we move forward in discussion mode there are certain areas of concern, some from their side and some from our side and we are all working on that,” he said.

“We have communicated to all of them through our interlocutor and we are waiting for a response from their side,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the NIA case against HNLC leaders is an old case.

“It is an ongoing process and it is not from the State side, it is from the Centre side and we have already passed on the information to them and that is why I am saying as the talks go forward different areas and different conditions and different talks can be held with the stakeholders from the Central government, from State government and from their side and we will figure out how to move forward,” he said.

“But as I said it is a process and since multiple stakeholders are involved we need to clarify from every side so this will go on,” Sangma said while stating that “yes it is a concern and we have raised it with Delhi also.”

PM Modi inaugurates FM Transmitters in Nongstoin, Williamnagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 91 new 100W FM Transmitters today via video conferencing. Community Radio Stations in Meghalaya’s Nongstoin and Williamnagar are among the 91 places wherein these transmitters have been inaugurated.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a significant step in the expansion of FM services by All India Radio in the direction of becoming All India FM. He underlined that the beginning of 91 FM transmitters by All India Radio is like a present for 85 districts and 2 crore people of the nation.

In a way, the Prime Minister said, it provides a glimpse of the diversity and colours of India. He informed that the districts covered under the new 91 FM transmitters are aspirational districts and blocks, and congratulated All India Radio for the momentous achievement.

He also congratulated the citizens of the Northeast who will greatly benefit from this.

The Prime Minister underscored the emotional connection of his generation with radio. “For me, there is an added happiness that I have a relationship with radio as a host too”, the Prime Minister said referring to the upcoming 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

He said “This kind of emotional connect with the countrymen was possible only through the radio. Through this, I remained linked to the strength of the country and the collective power of the duty among the countrymen.” He elaborated on this point by giving examples of the role of the programme in initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Har Ghar Tiranga which became a people’s movement through Mann Ki Baat. “Therefore, in a way, I am part of your All India Radio Team”, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister underlined that the inauguration of 91 FM transmitters forwards the policies of the government that gives preference to the underprivileged who have been deprived of this facility so far. “Those who were considered to be distant will now get a chance to connect at a greater level”, the Prime Minister said.

Listing out the benefits of FM transmitters, the Prime Minister mentioned relaying important information on time, community building efforts, weather updates related to agricultural practices, information on food and vegetable prices for the farmers, discussions about the loss incurred by the use of chemicals in agriculture, pooling of advanced machinery for agriculture, informing women self-help groups about new market practices and assisting the entire community during times of a natural calamity. He also mentioned the infotainment value of the FM.

The Prime Minister said that the government is continuously working for the democratization of technology. “It is important that no Indian should feel scarcity of opportunity if India has to rise up to its full potential”, the Prime Minister said.

Making modern technology accessible and affordable is key to this. He explained this by mentioning optical fiber to all the villages and the cheapest data cost that has eased access to information. He said that this has given a new push to digital entrepreneurship in villages.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the tech revolution taking place in the country in the past few years has fabricated radio and especially FM in a new form. Noting the rise of the internet, the Prime Minister pointed out that radio has come to the fore in innovative ways through podcasts and online FM.

The Prime Minister touched upon the dimension of linguistic diversity and informed that FM transmission will take place in all the languages and especially in the regions with 27 dialects.

“This connectivity does not link just the tools of communications but it connects the people too. This is reflective of the work culture of this government”, said the Prime Minister highlighting the emphasis on social connectivity along with the promotion of physical connectivity.

“Our government is strengthening cultural connectivity and intellectual connectivity also”, the Prime Minister said.

Noting that tourism has got a boost after the rejuvenation of pilgrimages and religious places in different parts of the country, the Prime Minister said that the increasing number of people visiting tourist places is proof of increasing cultural connectivity in the country. He gave examples of museums related to tribal freedom fighters, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Panchteerth, PM Museum and the National War Memorial and said that such initiatives have given a new dimension to intellectual and emotional connectivity in the country.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister underlined the vision and mission of all communication channels like All India Radio and said that connectivity be it in any form, its purpose is to connect the country and its 140 crore citizens. He expressed confidence that all stakeholders will continue to move forward with this vision resulting in the strengthening of the country through continuous dialogue.

Nongstoin, Williamnagar to get new FM transmitters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 91 FM transmitters of 100 W today at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. The inauguration will give a further boost to radio connectivity in the country.

In Meghalaya, new FM transmitters will be inaugurated at Nongstoin and Williamnagar. FM Transmitter at Community Radio Station (CRS), Nongstoin would be operating on 100.1 MHz FM Band while the one at Williamnagar would be operating on 100.9 MHz FM Band. The 100W Transmitter is expected to be heard in around 400 Sq. km area delivering a bouquet of various programmes of entertainment and education to the listeners in the town and nearby villages.

An event to celebrate these occasions is being organised in the premises of CRS Nongstoin and Williamnagar. Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya will be joining these events virtually. Prominent persons of Nongstoin and Williamnagar including senior Government officers & dignitaries are likely to be physically present at Nongstoin and Williamnagar sites during the inauguration.

The government has been committed to enhance FM connectivity in the country. The 91 new 100 W FM transmitters have been installed in 84 districts across 18 States and 2 Union Territories. A special focus of this expansion has been on enhancing coverage in Aspirational Districts and in border areas. The States and UTs which are covered include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

With this expansion of AIR’s FM service, an additional 2 crore people across the country, who did-not have access to the medium, will now be covered. It will result in expansion of coverage in about 35,000 sq km area.

The Prime Minister has been a firm believer in the important role which radio plays in reaching out to the masses. To harness the unique strength of the medium to reach out to the widest possible audience, Prime Minister started Mann Ki Baat programme, which is now nearing its landmark 100th episode.

AIM against gambling in melas

The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.

Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.

Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.