State seeks Central aid to set up Anganwadi centres

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: The Meghalaya government has sought the Centre’s support for setting up of Anganwadi centres in over 1500 villages across the state.

Replying to a query raised by AITC MLA from Ampati Miani D Shira in the Assembly, Minister in-charge Social Welfare Paul Lyngdoh said, “We have already moved the Ministry of Women and Child Development for total coverage of uncovered villages.”

He said that the government will be in a position to set up Anganwadi centres in uncovered villages within the next 1-2 years.

He said the 1,500 uncovered villages are presently being taken up under the Early Childhood Development Programme.

The minister also informed that nine applications were received from East Khasi Hills alone for setting up of new main Anganwadi centres and 27 for mini Anganwadi centres.

Lyngdoh further informed that he will also convene a comprehensive review of the existing Anganwadi centres across the State in October. He also assured to look into the concerns of all members in regard to these centres during the upcoming review meeting.

Congress Mawhati MLA Charles Marngar had wanted to know what happened to the rice cooker given to Anganwadi centres with no electricity connection while Umsning MLA Celestine Lyngdoh requested the need to ensure water supply to the centres and Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui stressed the need to have a synergy between the social welfare department and the health department and education department for the proper development of the children in the state.

Cheristerfield Thangkiew’s death: Govt to first study explanation by Tactical Team – I

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the government will decide on the action after going through the explanation submitted by the Tactical Team-I, which had conducted the operation at the residence of former HNLC leader (L) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew which led to his death on August 13, 2021.

“Let the process start. Right now the department has just received the explanation (submitted by Tactical Team-I). We will go through all of it. Once that is done we will see what action will be taken,” Tynsong told reporters.

The explanation was sought by the state government after the report of the One Man Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice T Vaiphei was tabled in the Assembly’s autumn session held last year.

The report stated that the operation was well planned but poorly executed since the team was supposed to capture (L) Thangkhiew alive.

Justice T Vaiphei in his report had stated: “Therefore, my finding is that the Tactical Team-I in carrying out the operation to arrest the deceased at his residence on August 13, 2021 at about 3 AM was culpable of thoughtless and excessive use of force, which resulted in the death of the deceased, late Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, which turned out to be avoidable,” Justice Vaiphei said in his report.

“In my considered view, the post facto excuse that none but the deceased was hurt cannot be a valid justification for carrying out the operation hastily and in a reckless manner by the Tactical Team-I,” he added.

The report had said the common thread of evidence running through the statements of these state witnesses is that the objective of the operation was professed to be simply to capture the deceased alive and not to shoot at him.

That was the decision taken in the tactical meeting held prior to the operation.

“In my considered view, the operation was a well-plan, but executed poorly, recklessly, hastily and without proper application of mind,” Justice Vaiphei had said adding “In order words, it was a botched-up operation and failing in its objective of apprehending the deceased alive, who would have given valuable information to the police about the subversive activities of the proscribed HNLC outfit.”