‘Devp & green protection should go hand in hand’
SHILLONG: Minister of Forests and Environment Clement R Marak has called upon the need to preserve the protected areas and other natural ecosystems by ensuring that development activities go hand-in-hand with environmental conservation. Addressing the valedictory function of the Wildlife Week Celebration on Tuesday, Marak said the state is richly endowed with biodiversity that forms an important part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The minister, quoting a report by World Wildlife Fund, expressed concern that growing urbanisation has resulted in the decrease of wildlife population by 52 per cent between 1970 and 2014. “Increase in human population has mainly been at the cost of animals. While hunting and poaching are definitely threats to their existence, loss of home or habitat is their major bane,” he added. Humans are encroaching on the wildlife and development is at the cost of plants and animals, the minister said.
National disaster reduction day observed
JOWAI: National Disaster Reduction Day was observed at Chilliang Raj Community Hall, Jowai on Tuesday. It was organised by the District Disaster Management Authority, Jowai. Its theme was ‘Disaster Mitigation & Preparedness’. D.M Wallang Additional Deputy Commissioner and CEO of DDMA, West Jaintia Hills was also present. Speaking on the occasion, Wallang said with climate change and keeping in mind the vulnerability of many natural disasters prone in our State and district, each one of us should be well prepared to reduce such disasters. We cannot stop natural disaster but we can equip ourselves with better knowledge to response to such disasters.
Indira Gandhi’s contribution to state remembered
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee on Lecture, Seminar, Symposium in collaboration with frontal bodies and MPCC departments organised a one-day seminar on ‘Indira Gandhi and the Nation’ with special reference to Meghalaya here on Tuesday. The programme was part of the ongoing year-long ‘Indira Gandhi Birth Centenary Celebrations’. A large number of party leaders, members and well-wishers thronged Congress Bhavan in the city to pay respect to the leader.
Nurse recruitment: NGO alleges reservation policy violation
TURA: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has dashed off a letter to the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Roshan Warjri alleging the violation of the 40% job reservation policy in the selection for personal interview for recruitment to the posts of staff nurses in the state recently. The federation pointed out that as per the advertisement put out in a local newspaper the total number of posts for staff nurses was 436. It alleged that only 124 Garo candidates were selected for the personal interview when the number should have been 174. “As per the reservation policy, the number of posts allotted to different categories should be 66 for open categories (15%), 174 for Khasi and Jaintia (40%), 174 for Garos (40%) and 22 for other scheduled tribes (5%),” it said. “We urge you to direct the concerned department to resolve the matter at the earliest,” Sengbreez N Marak, the general secretary of the federation said.
‘State in dire need of qualified psychiatrists’
SHILLONG: Every state in the country is grappling with the issue of mental health, said Governor Ganga Prasad while inaugurating the two day National Seminar on Mental Health: Initiate Fo r Action organised by the Department of Social Work of Martin Luther Christian University. Speaking at the inauguration, Prasad stated that a lot of hard work and dedication will be required to provide better health care and infrastructure for those suffering from the different forms of mental health while creating opportunities for the youth to get training to deal with the issues. Dr. Sandi Syiem during his presentation on the Situational Analysis of the local scenario in the state said that there is an urgent need of qualified psychiatrists in the state with only 3 psychiatrists in Shillong, 3 in 3 other district headquarters and 3 in NEIGRIHMS while another 10 are serving in private hospitals.
Teachers submit memo to CM
TURA: Non-Adhoc Secondary and Higher Secondary School teachers from Garo Hills who are yet to be provided grant-in-aid met Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma recently to seek his intervention. Teachers under the banner of All Garo Hills Non-Adhoc Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers’ Association (AGHNASHSSTA) also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister where they sought provision of grant-in-aid to all teachers (not only the science teachers) of non-adhoc schools as well as those teaching science, arts and commerce streams at higher secondary level.
Pohchen joins PDF
SHILLONG: The Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) has in a meeting held at Laitkor on Tuesday welcomed Hilarius Pohchen into its fold. Pohchen will contest the Assembly elections from Nongkrem constituency. PDF’s former member, HS Shylla, who was the party’s candidate from Nongkrem, recently joined NPP. Pohchen in his speech said he is confident of victory.
NEHUSU for devp of University
SHILLONG: The NEHUSU recently met the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Subordinate Legislations and submitted a memorandum in which the Union highlighted the “glaring ineptitude, incompetence and ignorance of the NEHU administration” towards the affairs of the student community and towards the overall development of the campus as a whole. The memorandum further emphasized on the insufficiency of the numbers of hostels, the inability of the administration to keep itself abreast with the latest UGC guidelines and notifications and also on the growing vacant posts in the campus, both in the teaching and non-teaching departments. Furthermore the Union demanded for the rectification of the issues to allow the smooth functioning and running of the University.
Climbers bag 4 medals
SHILLONG: Three climbers of the Meghalaya Sport Climbing and Mountaineering Association have bagged four medals in the 19th North East Zone Sports Climbing Competition organised by the North East Zone Sport Climbing Committee under the aegis of Indian Mountaineering Foundation in Agartala from October 26 to 29. Ngandarihun Sohshang won silver in speed climbing and bronze in lead climbing while Verisha Maring bagged bronze in boulder climbing in the women’s open category. Sildaris Makri bagged silver in lead climbing in the junior girls’ category.
State runs for unity on Sardar Patel’s birth anniv
SHILLONG/TURA/NONGSTOIN: ‘Run for Unity’ was organized in several districts to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas on Tuesday. Governor Ganga Prasad flagged off the run from Madan Iewrynghep in the city. Later in the day, East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak flagged off the cars and bike rally from State Central Library premises.In Sohra, the sub-divisional officer led the staff in administering the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) and Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas (National Re-Dedication Day) pledge. In Tura, BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, celebrated the birth anniversary of India’s first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel here with a ‘Run for Unity’ from Chandmari playground to Hawakhana on Tuesday morning. Kendriya Vidyalaya Happy Valley too observed the day. BSF organised a series of events at Umpling, Mawpat and Dobasipara. A blood donation camp was organised. In Nongstoin, the run started at 6am from the DC office covering a distance of 7.3 km.