Meghalaya still on track to host National Games

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) and the state’s Sports and Youth Affairs department have submitted details to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on the preparation for the National Games.

During the special annual general meeting of the IOA held yesterday, the newly elected President of IOA Dr PT Usha stated that the IOA is committed to conducting the National Games as allotted and is trying to conduct the National Games every year so as to clear the backlog of pending National Games of Goa, Chattisgarh, Uttrakhand and Meghalaya.

MSOA working president John F Kharshiing, informed  the President  IOA that Meghalaya had to reschedule the entire preparation due to the two years of Covid-19 lockdown, and had recently successfully revived and conducted the 3rd state games in February 2020, the 4th State Games in May 2022 including the prestigious 2nd North East Games in November 2022 and that construction of a number of prestigious sports infrastructure was already ongoing and in an advance stage in both Shillong and Tura (sub city) in preparation for the hosting of the National Games.

Kharshiing informed the IOA president that as per the timelines of the progress of the various ongoing infrastructure work Meghalaya would be tentatively ready to host the National Games in 2025. He also informed the IOA officials that late RK Sachetti, former Chairman, GTCC Committee for Meghalaya, had visited Shillong in January 2020, however since his sad sudden demise in May 2021, the IOA was yet to communicate who would be replacing him to coordinate with the MSOA and the State Government relating to the National Games.

The IOA president informed that the new office bearers have just taken over the Indian Olympic Association and will review the submissions and will be connecting with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association shortly to review the timelines of the pending National Games.

Prior to the meeting in the IOA President’s official chambers the MSOA officials attended the Special Annual General Meeting (SAGM) presided over by Dr PT Usha, wherein among other matters the IOA SAGM heard the report from Amitabh Sharma, Executive Council Member, & Chairman, GTCC – 37th National Games, Indian Olympic Association, who briefed the house that based on their recent visit to Goa and meetings with the Goa State Government it has been confirmed that the XXXVII National Games will be held in Goa this year during end October 2023.

Earlier in her opening remarks the IOA president had called on all to unite for the sake of the athletes and to strive towards the goal set by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that India must become a sports super power by 2036.

Upscaling Hobby to Business- the story of Harador Khariong’s Plant Parenthood

“If done with full commitment and passion whether it’s art, science or music, one can achieve their goal to make things work better and the satisfaction you will get is beyond your imagination”— Harador Khariong, Founder-Plant Parenthood
For Harador Khariong, a resident of Wahingdoh Shillong, East Khasi Hills Meghalaya, Plant Parenthood started as a hobby and out of love for plants during her college days. This eventually became more interesting and turned to be a career option in planting in the year 2020, especially succulents because they were relatively easier to take care of.
It was during the Northeast Food Show 2022 that Harador saw few entrepreneurs with their stall under the umbrella of PRIME, after which she learned in detail about PRIME and how it has helped entrepreneurs succeed in their business. Therefore, in the same year she enrolled herself in the Pre – Incubation batch 3.
Through the PRIME’s Pre-Incubation program, she learned more about upscaling her business and ultimately launched the ‘Plant Parenthood’ initiative.
This article has been featured in collaboration with PRIME Entrepreneurship Meghalaya. To know more about PRIME, visit: https://www.primemeghalaya.com/

Ao takes diplomatic stance on ‘fighting corruption’

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 7: The BJP national vice president and Meghalaya In-charge Dr M Chuba Ao remained tight-lipped regarding the party’s stand to fight against corruption.

On BJP to go ahead with its decision to investigate all cases of corruption against the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-I) government, Dr Ao said, “Now, we are not talking about corruption. Let us form the government after that we will work and you will see how smoothly we run the government.”

He said the allegations of corruption were made during election time. “They also make allegations against our political party (that it is a) Hindu party and Hindutva”.

He however said there is no proof of the allegations of corruption. “We will stick to that only but we will work and we will come to know what is there. We also promise that we will not do such kinds of things,” Dr Ao said.

Whether he meant to say there was no corruption at all in the MDA-I government, the BJP leader however said, “I can’t say because at that time we were not so much acquainted with each other it is only we form the government to take the numbers but this time we are much more united.”

Hek, Shullai to share cabinet berth

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided that the cabinet berth will be shared between the two of its MLAs – Alexander Laloo Hek and Sanbor Shullai.

The decision came a day before Hek was sworn in as cabinet minister in the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-2) government.

In a letter to the NPP Chief, the BJP state president Ernest Mawrie said, “The party and its MLAs have symbiotically agreed to allow AL Hek to hold the berth for the first two and a half years which will end on August 7, 2025, following which Sanbor Shullai will hold the cabinet berth for the remaining term. Both the MLAs are hereby asked to respect and abide by the decision of the party and work mutually to ensure good governance and also to ensure check and balance.”

“Thus, I request your esteemed office to kindly honour the decision of the party and ensure both the MLAs get equal opportunity considering their seniority and support to your government,”  he added.

BJP Meghalaya In-charge Dr M Chuba Ao along with Hek and Shullai were also signatories of the letter submitted to the NPP chief.

After attending the swearing-in ceremony of the 12-member council of ministers, Shullai told reporters that this time an official agreement to share the cabinet berth between the two MLAs was made in the presence of the party leaders unlike in the last term which was only a “verbal agreement”.

“Besides the chief minister, the letter was also sent to the BJP national president JP Nadda and general secretary Rituraj Sinha,” he said.

Shullai said he does not have any problem waiting for his turn to take over as cabinet minister after 2 and a half years.

On his role in the government, the former cabinet minister said, “It will depend on the prerogative of the chief minister. I will accept anything for the interest of the people of my constituency.”