Teachers’ body sets 2-month deadline to govt
SHILLONG: The All Meghalaya Adhoc Lower Primary School Association (AMALPSA) on Friday served a two months ultimatum to the Directorate of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) as the organisation was seeking queries on the number of Adhoc Lower Primary School in the entire state.The education department has issued a notification in which the salary of teachers will be cent per cent for 1225 schools in the Adhoc Lower Primary while DSEL gave an estimate that there are 558 Adhoc Lower Primary schools.“Where did the remaining 667 Adhoc Lower Primary schools come from?” said, RS Khardewsaw, General Secretary of AMALPSA.
Planning board holds review meeting
Shillong: The Meghalaya State Planning Board led by its chairman MLA SC Marak held a review meeting with Deputy Commisioner and district officials of West Khasi Hills district at the DC’s office in Nongstoin on October 10.The board gave a report of the financial achievements of the plan period 2015-16 and 2016-17. The chairman also assured the departments that the board would make suitable recommendations to the government based on the reports of the district heads of all departments .They also had a similar review meeting at Williamnagar Circuit House on October 11.Marak was accompanied by co-chairman Francis Pondit R Sangma, deputy chairman Polycarp Marak, Manash Das Gupta, Dr Eureka Lyngdoh and Grithalson Arengh.
Panel to check border security
SHILLONG: A Supervisory Committee set up by the Supreme Court of India to supervise border fencing works on Indo-Bangladesh border reached Shillong on its three day visit to Meghalaya on October 11 and on 12. The committee visited Border Security Force Out Post at Baghmara to oversee the progress of border fencing works. The high level committee lead by A K Mangotra, IAS(Retd), former secretary of Border Management who is the chairman of the panel along with D K Pathak, IPS(Retd.) former DG BSF and Abdul Mannan, retired Guwahati University professor and H K Lohia, IPS, IG BSF(HR), Eastern Command, Kolkata.The members of the committee held a meeting on October 12 with S Khardyngdoh, IAS secretary, PS Dkhar, IAS district collector, East Khasi Hills, with other government officials, Forest Department, NBCC, NPCC and CPWD. Sabu A Joseph, Dy Inspector General/PSO briefed the committee about the present status of the border fencing works, installation of floodlights and prevailing security scenario in the state. The committee also interacted with the representatives of civil administration, Police, Customs and other agencies.
Mock drills across state
SHILLONG/ TURA/ NONGPOH: As part of the observance of International Day for Disaster Reduction, the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Directorate of Civil Defence & Home Guards and Fire & Emergency Services and Indian Red Cross Society conducted a Mock Drill on ‘Search and Rescue’ at Shillong Law College, Dhankheti, on Friday. On the same day, similar mock drills were conducted at MTC Building, Jail Road, North Garo Hills and Nongpoh. The mock drill organised in North Garo Hills focused on reducing the number of affected people during disasters. Essay competition on topics like ‘Be smart, be prepared’, pre disaster preparedness, effective disaster response and prevention and mitigation of natural disaster was conducted for school students of the area. In Nongpoh, the mock drill was conducted together with the Lumumpih village dorbar and village disaster management teams at Bethany Institute for Resource Development Lumumpih, Umsning.
Blood donation camp
SHILLONG: The Border Security Force organised a voluntary blood donation camp on Friday under the aegis of 26 Bn BSF at Unit Hospital, Praharinagar, Tura in collaboration with blood bank department civil hospital. The blood donation was supervised by Dr. S K Marak, Pathologist, In-charge blood bank, Dr. T A Momin and Dr. D R Marak and 8 other staffs from blood bank, civil hospital Tura were present during the camp. More than 25 sentinels of border and 5 members of their families donated blood. Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, Medical Officer of BSF Praharinagar Hospital and other staff of the Hospital assisted the blood bank staff.
MLCU initiative
SHILLONG: The department of Management and Commerce Studies, Martin Luther Christian University on Friday organised a Farmers’ Market on the varsity premises at Nongrah. Stalls were set up at the market selling traditional ryndia products from Khweng Village from Ri Bhoi district, vegetables and indigenous snacks from Laitsohpliah villge, East Khasi Hills, Centre of Learning Knowledge and Services sold produce from Mawthadraishan, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat, Jowai, Unsning and Umkei, entrepreneurs like Kara’s with their pickles, juices and jams, and Wan’s Food Processing.
Lab opened to benefit school
SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s first Atal Tinkering Laboratory was inaugurated by Pia Ahuja, Zonal President AWWA at Army Public School on Friday. The laboratory has been set up under the Atal Innovation Mission of Niti Aayog and the vision is to cultivate 1 million children in India as neoteric innovators.The lab will provide a platform for innovations out of the fusion of young curious minds and exposure to cutting edge technology in the premises of the school. Students from classes VI to XII will benefit from this laboratory. It is equipped with do-it-yourself kits and all the instruments related to Science, Electronics, Robotics, Sensors, 3D printers, computers etc. Further, this will also serve as a community outreach programme. Bright students from nearby communities can use the facilities of the lab and thus build a bridge between the school and the communities.
Cultures of peace festival
SHILLONG: The Cultures of Peace – Festival of the Northeast, started in 2011, organised by Zubaan and supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation will be held at Asian Confluence on Saturday from 10 am. Through writing, music, film, theatre, media, photography etc., the festival aims to showcase the cultures of the NE and bring important and pertinent discussions to the table and to build bridges and make connections with the rest of the country. Speaking to The Shillong Times, Dr Axel Harneit-Sievers, Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, India said, “Our belief is that cultural exchanges help to build peace and to remove the fear that enters people’s minds when they do not comprehend the ‘other’. This year’s festival will be organised in two cities; Shillong and Delhi.”The festival is held in collaboration with Asian Confluence as a local partner.
‘Next green revolution in NE’
SHILLONG: The northeastern region is the “sleeping giant” in the country’s agricultural sector, said ICAR director general Dr RS Paroda on Friday. On the second day of the 77th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (Mumbai) at Umiam, Paroda said, “The country is looking towards the region for the next green revolution.” However, YK Alagh, chancellor of Gujarat Central University and former VC of JNU, said NITI Ayog is yet to come up with an action plan for agricultural sector. Present dispensation is committed to agricultural development but a clear road map in this direction is needed. He emphasised on water resource development and water management framework for sustainable development. M Premjit Singh, VC of Central Agricultural University in Imphal, highlighted the role played by the institute and 13 colleges across seven states in the last few years.The three-day conference is organised by College of Post-Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University (Imphal) in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam.
Innerwheel club’s Diwali meet
Shillong: Innerwheel Club of Shillong celebrated ‘The Festival of Lights-Diwali’ at Hotel Pegasus Crown on Friday. President Deeya Rathore gave away earthen lamps made by visually impaired children. Members of the club participated in the World Blind Walk by Project Vision on Thursday.