Beldarpara residents demand repair of locality road
TURA: Residents of Beldarpara-Fancy Valley area have approached the executive engineer of PWD (Roads), North Division in Tura urging the department to urgently repair the damaged RCC culvert along the road connecting the two localities and construct a retaining wall on a particular section of the same road to safeguard it from erosion. A memorandum in this regard was recently submitted to the official, but with no action forthcoming the residents led by social activist, Anamika J G Momin on Wednesday met the official again and submitted a reminder of the memo. During their meeting, the official is said to have cited the absence of maintenance fund for the non-repair. Pointing out that, accidents could happen anytime on the two damaged portions of the road Momin urged the department to carry out repair works at the earliest.
UDP Ranikor gets two more primary units
MAWKYRWAT: The UDP has set up two primary units at Alekwareng and Tilakaw villages in Ranikor constituency iN South West Khasi Hills to strengthen its base.
The party’s youth wing and media cell secretary in Ranikor, R Bahunlang Sanglein, said many people are joining UDP in Ranikor to support Pius Marwein, the party’s candidate in the 2018 Assembly elections. “More than hundred people from Alekwareng village joined UDP that necessitated the formation of the primary unit,” Sanglein said. The unit is led by president Bush Marak. Sanglein also informed that at Tilakaw, the unit is led by Nethas Marak. Besides, the UDP also go a women’s wing in the village led by Sreti Sangma.
Training on Social Audit held in Resubelpara
TURA: A training programme on social audit was held at the SGSY Hall, Resubelpara on Wednesday where members of various NGOs and Self Help Group (SHGs) from East and North Garo Hills attended. The training which was conducted mainly to increase awareness about Social Audit and to educate members of NGOs and SHGs was graced by Deputy Commissioner, S C Sadhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner P K Boro, BDOs L D Sangma, R Z D Shira, P R Marak and R N Sangma. During the training, external social audit experts from Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) Rajasthan, Paras Banjara and Vineeth Bhambhu highlighted the guidelines of the Act also called the Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017 and informed that the Act aims to review delivery of public services, check the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of Government Schemes and initiate course correction measures wherever necessary. It was also informed that a Public Hearing shall be held on November 23 at three villages of North Garo Hills namely Kharkutta Songgital, Chotcholja and Megam A’Kong where social audit of implementing agencies like Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Employment and skilling, Roads & Transport, Agriculture, Community & Rural development and others would be covered.
SSA teachers march to protest non-fulfilment of demands
TURA: Thousands of SSA teachers from Garo Hills under the banner of the All Garo Hills SSA School Teachers’ Association on Thursday marched in unison in protest against the failure of the state government to fulfill their many pending demands. A brief meeting was held at the Tura Government College playground at Teteng Aja locality from where the teachers, holding placards and banners marched via Tetengkol junction passing through Hawakhana, AOC junction and Babupara finally culminating at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where a reminder of their memorandum was submitted to DRDA Project Director, Dikki D Shira.
Awareness prog on nutrition rights
NONGSTOIN: The Meghalaya State Food Commission (MSFC) in collaboration with the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs and supply departments here on Thursday organised a day-long awareness programme on the rights of people in regard to nutrition. Addressing the gathering as chief guest RC Laloo, deputy chief minister of Meghalaya informed that the purpose of holding the programme was sensitise the people about nutrition Acts and their rights. He informed that people were welcome to seek enquiries or file complaints at the commission or by dialing 1967. He further said the commission was an apex body which could make any ruling and take decisions against defaulters. BK Dev Verma, former additional chief secretary, in his remarks as chairman, explained in detail about the various sections of the Acts. He informed that in India about 50 per cent of the population suffer from malnutrition and are underweight for which the government has felt the need to form the Food Commission. He also said three government departments such as supply, social welfare and education were included in the commission to take care of the requirements. The function concluded with a power-point presentation on National Food Security Act, 2013, Mid Day Meal scheme and Integrated Child Development Services.
Intl seminar held at NEHU
SHILLONG: The inaugural function of the international seminar on ‘Narratives of Violence and Terror in South Asia (NOVATISA)’ organised by the Department of English, NEHU was held on Thursday in the auditorium of the Old Guest House, NEHU. The Regional Director, IGNOU, Dr. A.S. Guha, delivered the inaugural address in which he highlighted the importance of looking beyond the depiction of violence and terror and to focus instead on the quest for peace. On the other hand, Prof. Kalpana Kannabiran, Director, Council for Social Development, Haryana, who delivered the keynote address, talked about the unspeakability of violence, its exceptionality despite its everyday occurrence, its resistance to any definition or categorization.
Fire breaks out at Sonapur
SHILLONG: Two persons were injured after a fire broke out at 14 Mile, Sonapur, Assam on the border of Meghalaya and Assam on Thursday morning in which approximately 20 houses got completely burnt down. The injured were shifted to hospital. It is learnt that cause of fire may be due to gas cylinder blast.
IAS officers
Two Meghalaya officers, Aldous Mawlong and PS Dkhar have been promoted to officiate in the selection grade of IAS with grade pay.