Meghalaya State BJP waiting for central nod to new executive members

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 9: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek has informed that the list of the new state executive members is awaiting the approval of the central leadership.

“This morning I spoke to the newly elected president Rikman G Momin, who is on the way to Delhi with a list for the approval of the central leaders. After getting the approval, they will publish the names of the new state executive members of the party,” Hek told reporters.

On the party’s preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Hek said that his name is among the three ticket aspirants for the Shillong parliamentary seat.

“However, I don’t know who the other two names are. So we will see who from the three names will be the best choice for contesting from Shillong parliamentary seat,” he said while adding “Among the three, whoever will be chosen, we will have to work hard and ensure win in this upcoming Lok Sabha election.”

On TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma joining the BJP, Hek however said the door of the BJP is not only open to TMC but also to all political parties.

“Mukul Sangma can join at any time he wants. I welcome him anytime but we have not discussed so how will I know if he is joining or not. But for us the door is open to anybody who wants to come to the BJP,” he said.

Hek also said that he has no idea on whether Mukul Sangma is in touch or not with the BJP central leadership.

COVID claims another life in West Garo Hills

A 46-year-old man, who was tested Covid-19 positive died in West Garo Hills District on Friday.

This was informed by Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh after reviewing the Covid scenario in the state.

“A death has occurred in West Garo Hills. He (the deceased patient) came very late to the hospital,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She however said, “Whether or not this one case was a case of death due to Covid directly or was it because of some other comorbidity status of the patient will be ascertain at the earliest.”

The minister also requested people to reach out to the nearest facility if they feel that their symptoms are way beyond their redressal as early detection and redressal of the problem is very important.

As of today, the death toll due to Covid in Meghalaya is over 1626.

Lyngdoh also informed that the death audit committee is already in place and said, “We will ensure that we will send all details to the audit committee to ensure whether or not it was a direct Covid related death.”

Stating that the government do not want to panic the public, the minister however said in the event of this one case, the government would like to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

As on Friday, the state has a total of 17 active Covid cases of which 10 are in West Garo Hills, 5 in East Khasi Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.

Also stating that Covid cases are well under control, Lyngdoh said that there has been no sign that this would take a pandemic situation again adding that “we feel that this is not going to happen but nevertheless one death has occurred, we thought that we should share this with you.”

She further announced that the health department has requested for immediate implementation of all precautionary measures and said, “We request the public at large to kindly adhere to Covid practices so that we may be able to contain the situation and ensure that it does not become a problem. Please wear masks in crowded places, cough with etiquette, wash your hands, use sanitisers.

People with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste, smell, breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms should immediately reach out to the first testing centres. Testing centres are made available at all block levels, all tertiary care centres will have all these facilities.”

The minister also assured that the state is in a prepared stage to tackle the Covid situation in the state and said people coming from areas with high positivity rate are requested to take personal precautionary measures which include self-isolation.

With regards to the availability of vaccines in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh informed that a meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday next, to take a call on the matter.

“Now, the policy on vaccines will be again taken up on Monday when the chief minister will also be available to advise us accordingly, we will then give further information as to what will be the stand of this government on the vaccines,” she said while informing that the Government of India had already indicated it is not going to provide any vaccines and that vaccines or ‘the third dose or booster dose’ will have to be procured by the state.

The minister said, “Covid vaccine is a voluntary decision taken by the citizens. We cannot push or force doses on citizens until and unless they so wish to. So we leave it to the public to decide that is why we are yet to take a call as to what will be the formula that the government would propose. We will be sitting with the chief minister on Monday and we will have a better detail for you at that point of time.”

She however maintained that the covid vaccine has never been made compulsory for the public and that it is purely voluntary on the part of the citizens.

If the government will impose some restrictions on inter-district movement, the minister said, “I don’t want to jump the gun and presume that this situation will completely get out of hand. We will not take any immediate decision but appropriate precautionary measures have been advised to all citizens across the board.”

Meanwhile, the minister also informed that there has been no new variant detected in the cases registered in the state.

“Everything remains the same. Covid is Covid. The variant also remains the same variant, there has been no identification of a new variant or a new type of Covid that will require additional protocol,” she added.

According to her, only few patients out of 17 are being hospitalized and kept in the isolation ward but nobody is being admitted in the ICU.

Govt empowering women through economic activities: CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday addressed the National Seminar on “Representation of Women of North East India in Multi–Disciplinary Discourse” at Don Bosco College, Tura.

The seminar was attended by scholars from different parts of the country, and papers were presented. The seminar saw the participation of Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma as well. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Sukalpa Bhattacharjee of the NEHU Shillong campus.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the government has conceptualized a programme to empower women through different economic activities. He further informed that through the SHG movement, the government is ensuring that women are made financially independent.

He told the gathering of a situation, where young women were at high risk due to childbirth without spacing of three years and some young women even giving birth to more than five children by the age of 23 years.

“So we had to come up with a solution which is long-lasting that ensures the health and well-being of a mother. The Safe Motherhood Programme addresses the concern of women. We have also introduced intervention that empowers women financially through income generating activities initiated through Self Help Group,” he added, while stating that economic empowerment of women is of paramount concern of the government.

He further informed that Meghalaya is one of the few states in the country, where 95 per cent of the women from rural areas are part of the Self Help Group movement. He said that there are over 4 lakh women under the SHG movement in the State, which was around 35,000 thousand prior to 2018.

He further said that the government is working with a positive mindset to provide different opportunities to enable the economic empowerment of women. He said that there are different problems confronting women but the government is working with an approach to provide effective solutions to those problems.

“Having a positive mindset does not mean that we overlook the problem. However, we come up with a perspective to address the concern and improve things. It is a challenge but we have to come up with an approach to ensure real change,” he stressed.

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma, spoke at length on the contribution of women in different fields. He also urged the women to continue to overcome challenges and stand tall in making their contribution to society. He also said that women have better convincing power and their active participation is very important in different sectors.

Need of reservation policy for vulnerable section: Hek

BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek on Friday asserted the need for the reservation policy to give priority to the vulnerable section of the society in the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills region.

“If you ask me, everybody should get justice. Why not now the job reservation policy give priority to the vulnerable society of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo and also some percentage for the established families (of the three tribes). However, 50 per cent should be reserved for Khasi, Jaintia and Garo from the vulnerable section of the society,” Hek told reporters.

He added, “Let this also come out why only think about rich people. Give a chance to the poorest of the poor also (so that they can) at least stand on their feet, have their own position, and look after their family very well.”

Hek said, “Now we are getting 40:40 (from this), we will make it 50 per cent for the vulnerable society of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo and another 30 per cent of which 15 per cent will go Khasi-Jaintia and 15 per cent to Garo. What is wrong as all 80 per cent will go to our own community only. By doing this, the benefit will come to the poor people of the state of Meghalaya who are the tribal people.”

He said there are so many poor people who from generation to generation, their family were not given the opportunity to get a government job.

As far as the implementation of the roster system is concerned, Hek said he had convened a meeting with all senior BJP leaders to discuss this issue.

“We have not called entire leaders of BJP who are from Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills but only few leaders who are stationed in Shillong. Now, we have decided and told our president Ernest Mawrie also yesterday that we want this meeting to be called immediately with all the members including from Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills to discuss this sensitive issue which is prevailing in this present situation in the state of Meghalaya,” he said.

Further, the BJP leader also referred to the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong’s statement that the government had filed an affidavit three times before the High Court for implementing the roster prospectively and said, “So the government has taken initiative on this issue.”

He said that they expect the chief minister to call the cabinet meeting anytime to discuss this sensitive issue.

Will continue to oppose illegal activities: AL Hek

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 6: BJP leader and Pynthorumkhrah legislator AL Hek today said he would continue to oppose any illegal activities.

Hek told reporters that he has always been vocal against alleged corrupt practices and the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme was one of them.

“Who will allow illegal activities? I am firm in my stand (against corruption),” he said.

Conrad K Sangma has decided to induct Hek into his cabinet.

“We have asked for two cabinet berths. However, the party high command has asked me to go ahead and I will go ahead (for swearing-in ceremony),” he said.

On any agreement made between him and Sanbor Shullai for the cabinet berth, Hek said, “I cannot say now. That decision will be taken by the high command. Let them take a call on this.”