Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: NPP national general secretary and deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has opined that the opposition Congress has been admitted in an intensive care unit (ICU) and that it would be pointless to re-elect its candidate and sitting MP Vincent H Pala from Shillong parliamentary seat.

He said that it would also be pointless for people to vote for the opposition Voice of People Party (VPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) as they will only end up in Byrnihat and will reach nowhere.

Addressing at a meeting held at Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi on Thursday, to drum up support to the NPP’s candidate for Shillong and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Dhar said there are around 4-5 candidates, who will be contesting in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.  

“However, the candidate of the UDP will not reach anywhere and the VPP candidate also as you all know will only end up in Nongpoh (Byrnihat),” he said. He also alleged that voters, especially Garos and non-tribal, are not inclined towards the two parties.

Also alleging that the Congress is a sinking party, Dhar said, “Congress is a party, which is already in the ICU and we don’t know what will happen to it. The grand old party now has only 5 MLAs (in Meghalaya). The party, which had ruled the Centre once with a majority of 543 now is being reduced to only 40-50 and in this coming election, I don’t think they will even cross 40 seats. So why should we want to send the Congress MP. If we send (the Congress), we are fighting a losing battle already.”

“Therefore, I urge the people that the only option now is for you to vote for NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh,” he added.

He also said that the people will be best judge on the performance of Pala during the past 15 years.

Meanwhile, Dhar informed that as transport minister he had taken up with the Centre for sanctioning of eight laning road from Khanapara to Byrnihat and four lane road from Umroi to Jaintia Hills to ease the ever growing traffic jams.

The deputy chief minister also lauded the Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun for working very hard to bring development to the constituency. He said the MLA would even fight with CM every evening for development of his constituency.

“Therefore, it is visible that this constituency is not lacking behind be it roads, water supply, education sector and others,” Dhar said while adding that Jirang and Ranikor were among the constituencies which received the maximum development from the government.

“Sohtun is one of the most dynamic and hardworking MLA I should say. He fights almost every evening with the CM in his office. Today he came and asked for water and another 2-3 days he asked for roads and sometimes when he came and opened the door, CM would say what you want now. That is why he cares for his people.

In his speech, former Sohiong MLA Samlin Malngiang said that the NPP is a party which has principles and has leaders like Conrad K Sangma and two deputy CMs – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar. “Therefore, people should vote for the NPP in the upcoming polls to ensure all round development of the state,” he said.

The meeting was presided by Jirang MLA and attended by leaders and workers of the party.

Varalika Mishra

Pallabi Ghosh says, “Mental health is critical as girls and women are constantly stigmatized, their family don’t even understand the trauma they went through, and there are severe consequences.” Born and raised in Lumding, Assam, Ghosh has rescued over more than 7,000 girls and boys from trafficking. According to her, trafficking greatly impacts the individual’s mental health. She has rescued hundreds of women and children from child marriage, forced marriage, child labour and prostitution. “Trafficking is a heinous crime. Most people get lured into it for a job, marriage, or love. They are innocent people who do not realise the consequences of what they are getting into. They come from vulnerable areas of remote India. My work focuses on post-rescue rehabilitation, where we counsel trafficking survivors and monitor them constantly for behavioural issues. Every 15 days, I analyze their physical, social, and psychological status and gradually reduce the frequency once we see healing. Just rescue doesn’t ensure recovery,” she adds.

According to reports, most girls die by suicide due to the discrimination they face after being rescued. According to Pallabi, the real work starts post-rescue as that is when a supportive environment needs to be provided to the survivors for holistic development, and it is not an easy job to implement. Pallabi is the founder of Impact and Dialogue Foundation which helps in implementing various workshops for the survivors and in sensitizing the system about trafficking.

Impact and Dialogue Foundation provides destigmatization workshops for the members of the system, like families, social welfare officers, police, and other stakeholders, ensuring that they look at the survivor with dignity. It is crucial to realize that survivors are not responsible for getting trafficked in society. “I need much assistance in making people understand that trafficked survivors must heal and reliving the stories repeatedly through different types of questioning by the media and courts further aggravates their pain,” says Ghosh.
Impact and Dialogue Foundation creating a difference

“Our work is creating a difference. We have girls coming up sharing their stories, being a part of the policy and decision-making process, are a part of our stitching centres, along with kitchen gardens and self-help groups. They earn some money which gives them empowerment. We conduct vocational training and arrange for the survivors to learn computer skills and English-speaking courses to build their confidence further. We drive various workshops to help them get skilled and represent themselves in society,” adds Pallabi. With Impact & Dialogue Foundation, she aims to create awareness about trafficking of all forms. Contact +91-9811737441, Email- impactdialoguefoundation@gmail.com for any assistance.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 4: BJP state President Ernest Mawrie has stated that he is ready to be the candidate of the party from the Shillong parliamentary seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.

“As president of the party, if the party decides, I am ready to be the candidate of the party for the Lok Sabha election from the Shillong seat. I will not deny the decision of the party,” Mawrie told reporters today.

He however informed that the party is yet to discuss the candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state while reacting to reports that top leaders including M Kharkrang and HM Shangpliang are vying for the party ticket for the election.

The party has formed the Lok Sabha Prabhas and it will be headed by the state general secretary GC Nongbet as convener and there will be three co-conveners.

“Our main intention is to strengthen the party. The Lok Sabha Prabhas will go to each and every constituency to strengthen the organization,” he said.

Mawrie said it is too early now to identify the candidates since the party has one year to prepare adding “But we will look for winnable candidates as we are serious to win in both the seats – Shillong and Tura.”