Rise in no. of SSLC candidates partially due to repeated failures
From Our Correspondent
TURA: One of the reasons for the significant rise in the number of candidates each year in the SSLC examinations can be attributed to the large number of repeaters, said an official of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE).
There are a total of 46,723 candidates appearing in this year’s SSLC examinations which got underway on Tuesday compared to 43,631 candidates in 2014.
“The number of candidates increasing every year has become a trend and is likely to go on. This is because many candidates fail in the examination and reappear as private candidates the next year,” the official said.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that in 2014 there were a total of 23,445 private candidates who had sat for the examination. This year there has been an increase of an additional 1,948 candidates bringing the sum total of private candidates to 25,393. There is also a slight rise in the number of regular candidates this year with the total being 21314 as compared to 20163 last year.
KSU opposes re-location of residential school
From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The KSU Laskein Circle has opposed the move to re-locate the site for setting up of a residential school at Laskein Block.
“We have an information that the government has relocated the construction site of the Residential School which was earlier located at Laskein village”, the KSU Laskein Circle secretary L. Tariang said.
“The residential school was supposed to come up at Laskein village, but for reasons best known to the concerned authorities, the construction has been re-located and shifted from Laskein to Shangpung,” he added.
According to KSU, Laskein village is the best location to set up the school as it is located in the area surrounded by villages such as Mukroh, Saba, Psiar, Khadkasla, Thangrain besides many others.
The KSU informed that the location for the construction of the residential school was a plot of land donated by the Laskein village Dorbar. But the concerned department has changed the site to a new area at Shangpung village.
Mentally-ill minor allegedly raped in Ri Bhoi
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old mentally-challenged girl was allegedly raped at Saajer Nongpoh Proper in Ri Bhoi District.
Police said that the incident happened on March 1 around 4:30 pm when one Ratan Basik allegedly lured the girl to his house and raped her there.
Police are on the lookout for the accused who has been absconding.
Police are also awaiting the medical reports of the victim and an FIR has been lodged by the family of the victim.
CM suppressing opposition, claims Meghalaya BJP
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State BJP on Wednesday said it had no interest in learning ‘mismanagement’ of finance from Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Reacting to Sangma’s invitation to the opposition parties for an ‘internship’ in his office, the State BJP said that the Chief Minister was ‘suppressing’ the opposition parties.
Stating that Central funds were not reaching the people, the BJP accused former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of mismanaging the country’s economy and not caring enough for the development of Meghalaya.
“Money is not reaching the people and this is the reason the 14th Finance Commission has given such as less amount to Meghalaya. The Chief Minister should give lectures to his Cabinet colleague who have failed in their respective departments,” BJP state general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said in the statement.
EVK EMRI clarifies on molestation charge
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The GVK EMRI has clarified that the aggrieved parties and GVK EMRI officials had recently met and decided that the reported molestation incident in West Jaintia Hills was only a case of misbehavior and manhandling of the woman attendant by the staff on duty as they were under the influence of alcohol.
The clarification came from the GVK EMRI after CSWO alleged that the driver and helper of 108 service ambulance had molested a lady attendant in West Jaintia Hills on Sunday last.
The organization assured the aggrieved parties that appropriate punishment will be given subject to the finding of the inquiry while asserting that such misconduct was unacceptable and worthy of severe punishment.The GVK EMRI also encouraged people availing the services to report any such incident during or after the case by dialing 108.
Ri Bhoi child welfare chief feted
From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: Women’s organisations iof Ri Bhoi on Wednesday organised a felicitation programme in honour of Jennifer Joan Kylla, who was recently appointed Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Ri-Bhoi District.Chief Adviser to the State government D.D. Lapang graced the occasion as a chief guest in the presence of Mawhati legislator Julius K. Dorphang, Umsning MDC Donkupar Sumer, Director of Social Welfare Department H.M. Shangpliang, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey and other eminent personalities of the district.
Prior to her appointment, Kylla was employed as the Principal of Eden Academy and was a former member of the State Women’s Commission.
Addressing the gathering, Kylla vowed that no case of exploitation of children would be tolerated in the district.
Books on eminent Nepali poet released
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong unit of Nepali Sahitya Parishad released two books – Pradhan- Smriti Grantha (memory script) and a monograph of Late Gopi Narayan Pradhan – at a function held in the city recently and attended by renowned Nepali authors from the Meghalaya and other states.
Late Prof. Gopi Narayan Pradhan, who was an eminent Nepali poet from Shillong and a Sahitya Akademi Award winner in 2011, was fondly mentioned in both the books.
The Nepali Sahitya Parishad and the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, jointly published the books.
Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Br. Albert L. Dkhar, Principal, St. Anthony’s College, fondly recalled late Pradhan’s dedicated efforts for the cause of students and his contribution towards the development of the Nepali language and literature in the whole of North East India.
MSM to decide on hunger strike today
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Maitshaphrang Movement (MSM) will meet on Thursday to take a call on the proposed indefinite hunger strike from March 9.
Reacting to the Cabinet’s approval of the amendments of the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012, and its rules, MSM convener Michael N Syiem, on Wednesday, said they would comment on the same only after going through the proposed amendments.
Power disruption in parts of city
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Power supply in parts of Shillong was disturbed on Wednesday evening due to strong winds.
The power supply was erratic in areas like Laban, Kench’s Trace and Rilbong.
When contacted, MeECL PRO PP Kar informed that there was fault in the main feeder at Kench’s Trace and accordingly it was isolated and charged.