Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 5: Spokesperson of the MDA government and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh today appealed to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) not to pull out of the ongoing peace talks.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said the government has only seen the HNLC’s statement conveying its decision to withdraw from the tripartite peace talks in media reports but officially nothing has been communicated to the government as yet.

“So first, I would appeal to the HNLC not to pull out of the peace talks because a lot of grounds have been covered initially and we would hope that good sense will prevail and we should be able to return to the negotiating table,” he said.

Asked, Lyngdoh said he will not be in a position to say much on the issue since both the chief minister Conrad K Sangma and deputy chief minister in-charge home (police) Prestone Tynsong are presently out of the station.

“But certainly, the government will take a call on the matter and it should be happening very soon once the CM is back,” he added.

He further assured that the matter will be taken priority once the CM and deputy CM in charge home are in town.

On the HNLC’s demand for a general amnesty, Lyngdoh said, “Well, it certainly can be considered depending on the gravity of each of the cases registered but certainly yes, it should be and it will be considered.”

Referring to the NIA cases against the outfit, the spokesperson said, “See those are matters of details but in general the approach should be when you have peace talks it should not be to the detriment of any section and to the interest of only one section so it has to be reciprocal.”

“Based on the principle of reciprocity then only we can take a stand on matters of details but the general approach would be that has to be give and take,” he asserted.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Shillong Pinecity celebrated Women’s Day at Prime Hub Meghalaya yesterday where women’s health and well – being were the main themes of the event.

Three accomplished women were invited to speak as guests as a part of the subject which included Shaidalin Marbaniang, a renowned female entrepreneur who makes completely compostable sanitary napkins, Dr. Jagjeet Sethi, a renowned dermatologist from Hope Clinic, Shillong, and Dr. Kerlin Mihsill, a renowned gynaecologist from Hope Clinic, Shillong.

The three notable speakers shared their personal and professional life experiences and well as their vision for women folk.

In addition to Dr. Sethi and Marbaniang educating the audience about women’s hygiene, well-being, and strategies to deal with medical issues, Dr. Mihsill gave a presentation on improving women’s health. The presentation was followed by an open forum where members and other guests put up questions which the speakers provided better understanding about the health and wellbeing of women.

It may be noted here that JCI Shillong Pinecity is the local branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global non-profit organisation dedicated to developing young, engaged citizens and leaders. JCI operates by empowering its members to make a good, long-lasting difference in their local communities.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 7: UDP leader and newly sworn-in cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh today referred to the Conrad K Sangma-led MDA-2 government as a “dream team” and said the expectations are well justified.

“We have a team which is comparatively more mature and there is more quality in it in terms of the experience and educational qualification of the various members of the cabinet,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

The West Shillong legislator added, “As I said this looks to be a more cohesive, a more experienced, qualitatively far better cabinet so it is a dream team…the expectations are well justified.”

Stating that the allocation of the portfolio is the prerogative of the chief minister, Lyngdoh said, “I am sure he will use his sense of balance to ensure every minister is able to perform to the optimum.”

The UDP, which is the second-largest party with 11 members, was given two cabinet berths.

On the party’s performance with two cabinet berths, the UDP leader however said, “Well, quality is everything, the number is nothing. You can have any portfolios and you don’t deliver and you have one minister holding five departments and he delivers so well so that is the comparison.”

Whether there is any agreement among the UDP MLAs for sharing of the cabinet berths, Lyngdoh said, “Well I am not privy to any such information. Let’s live one day at a time and make the best use of that single day and let’s perform today and again perform tomorrow. We will take one day at a time.”

The West Shillong legislator said, “Qualitatively Meghalaya deserves better and my sincere attempt right from the word go is to optimize the potential that God has given me and I am sure that goes for every member of the cabinet.”