Jowai to get Hollywood-like neon sign to attract tourists
The West Jaintia Hills District administration will install a large solar-powered neon sign on the hillock near Mih-Myntdu Bridge on the bypass to make it appealing to tourists.
Talking to The Shillong Times, DC Arun Kembhavi said the administration drew inspiration from the iconic Hollywood sign on the hills of Los Angeles as well as the Pattaya neon sign. “The lamination will be visible even from many kilometers away,” he added.
GM Lamar, the proprietor of GHM Hotel at Riat Molain Jowai, has consented to allow the installation of the neon billboard on his land for free. Jaintia Cement Manufacturing Association will fund the unique project.
Kembhavi is hopeful that the district will be a premier destination for tourists in the coming days. “We thought Jowai being the headquarters of West Jaintia Hills district deserves a landmark to welcome tourists,” he said.
Agitation
Irked at the delay of the state government to bring parity in salary between 4th Teachers in the Upper Primary schools (SSA) and other two SSA schools teachers, the 4th Teachers Committee of the Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) has set a one-month deadline to the government to fulfil their salary enhancement demand.
Further, failure of the government to comply will compel them to resort to agitations informed H M Marbaniang Chairman of 4th Teachers Committee while speaking to reporters after meeting the School Education and Literacy Minister Deborah C Marak on Tuesday.
The Minister has assured them that she will take up the measure with the Chief Minister.
“We urged the education Minister to enhance the pay of the existing 4th teachers comprising of 1521 to be at par with the approved pay of the SSA school teachers. The SSA teachers are paid in the lower primary and upper primary are paid Rs 9200 and Rs. 9900 whereas that of 4th teachers is only Rs 6000,” he said.
Swachh mission in Nongpoh
The Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner’s office organised an awareness programme on cleanliness as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission at Science Hall here on Tuesday. The programme focused on eliminating open defecation, construction of sanitary household latrine and its use and maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. Deputy Commissioner C.P Gotmare said besides keeping their own houses clean, villagers should also encourage neighbours to maintain hygiene and sanitation to avoid diseases like malaria and diarrhoea.
Compulsory marriage registration demand
Convener of Maitshaphrang Movement, Michael Syiem met Stamps and Registration Minister Martin Danggo with the demand to make the Marriage Registration Certificate mandatory for all official purposes. He stated that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act on 2012 and the Cabinet framed and notified the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Rules making the marriage registration certificate mandatory. “The Minister has assured that he will take up the matter as once it is notified it should be implemented,” he added.
Survey of by-pass road
To ease congestion on GS Road in Mawlai area where commuters get stuck for hours, the PWD minister Martin M Danggo on Tuesday surveyed Mawlai-NEHU by pass road to check if the single lane road can be upgraded to a double lane so that commuters coming to the city can pass through this road.