No payment needed for new LPG connection says Meghalaya RTI activist

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 14: RTI activist Disparsing Rani informed that as per RTI reports received from the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) government of India indicates that LPG gas connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme in the whole country is still going on free of cost.

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Speaking to media persons, Rani asserted that he had sought information under the RTI regarding this issue as he had received complaints that there are Gas agencies which charge up to Rs.6000 for new LPG gas connections.

“As per the RTI report received from the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited government of India showed that the LPG gas connection under the PMUY scheme in the whole country including in Meghalaya is still going on free of cost,” said Rani.

Rani informed that in Meghalaya there are four LPG gas distributors which were released by the government of India through the HPCL which includes Brothers HP Gas Gramin Kharkuta North Garo Hills, Genesis HP Gas Gramin Mawkyrwat South West Khasi Hills, JP HP Gas Gramin Mawbari Ri-bhoi district and Twin HP Gas Gramin Barato West Jaintia Hills.

He added that he had reached out to one Longkmie Gas Agency with regard to free gas connection but they failed to explain the reason due to which the free connection of gas has been halted in Meghalaya.

On the other hand, Rani informed that in IHM Shillong there are a total of 16 sanctioned posts out of which 8 posts are currently vacant and at present, the IHM Shillong is currently engaging on 1 contractual post and 10 posts are outsourced through an agency.

Rani asserted that there is a shortage of staff at the institute and proper teachers and assistance which could have a detrimental impact on the quality of education being imparted to students.

When it comes to providing ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased person due to Covid-19 in Meghalaya, Rani said that as per RTI report the Revenue & Disaster Management Department has paid an amount of rupees Rs. 6,66,00,000 from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the families of those who succumbed due to Covid-19 in the state.

Rani alleged that he has received complaints that there are around 10 families who have sent in complaints of not receiving the Rs. 50,000 ex-gratia from the SDRF even after reaching out to the department concerned.

Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)