Man held for raping 10 yr old
TURA: East Garo Hills police have arrested a 38 year old man who was sexually abusing a ten year old girl for the past few months. The arrest took place in the village of Naringgre Chidogittim under Rongjeng police station on Thursday. The accused, Sparson K Sangma was spotted by some village boys when he was leading the child to a nearby forest and attempting to commit the crime on Sunday. The family of the victim has filed a police complaint in this regards. “We have arrested the culprit based on the FIR filed by the minor victim’s parents. It was revealed by the victim that she had been sexually assaulted several times by the culprit, who belongs to the same village,” said SP in charge of EGH, Ringrang TG Momin.
Assam Rifles Colonel retires
SHILLONG: Assam Rifles Colonel P A Mathew retired from service after serving 42 years on Thursday. The officer thanked those who were associated with him for their support on various occasions. Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation of Kalakairaly had met him to bid farewell.
Civil hospital lacks amenities
SHILLONG: Several deficiencies in the Shillong Civil Hospital were brought to the notice of the government by Meghalaya United Women’s Welfare Organisation (MUWWO) After visiting the hospital recently, the MUWWO president Aruna Biswa said that there is disruption of electricity in the female wards which affects the patients, while adding that the Government should install a generator. She also pointed out that there should be transparency in dealing with the entry fee collected from the drop boxes. According to Biswa, while a pan shop was opened in the hospital premises, the urgent need is to set up ATM which will help the patients in time of emergency. She also pointed out that there is confusion among the patients and visitors since some of the nurses are not wearing uniforms. The NGO leader, however, hoped that the setting up of Amrit pharmacy will help the poor and the needy.
Seminar on solid waste held
SHILLONG: A seminar on ‘Solid Waste Management: Importance and Entrepreneurial Potential’ was held at Shillong College on Thursday. The seminar was the outcome of the Solid Waste Management Course run by the college under the RUSA Equity Assurance programme. At the inaugural function the guest of honour, Dr. TS R Marak, Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills lauded the efforts of the college in running such a course and holding this seminar for tackling the issue. At the valedictory programme 39 participants who successfully completed the two months course run by Department of Environmental Science and Entrepreneurship Development Course were felicitated.
HSPDP to review candidature
SHILLONG: The election committee of HSPDP will review the candidature of Blatsbor Kharpran in Mawryngkneng constituency after the party received complaints against him. In a statement issued here on Thursday, Nolip Lyngdoh, secretary of the state election commission of HSPDP stated that there were complaints against Kharpran from party workers in the constituency which prompted the party to review his candidature. Kharpran’s name was announced in HSPDP’s second list. He retired from the Meghalaya Rural Bank as a branch manager and was a former member of Khasi Students Union, Sohryngkham unit.
Water scheme for Patharkhmah
NONGPOH: A water supply scheme incepted a decade back has finally seen the light of day. Public health engineering minister Dr Celestine Lyngdoh on Thursday inaugurated the Patharkhmah Combined Water Supply Scheme being implemented by the PHE department of Nongpoh division at a function in Patharkhmah. The scheme was incepted in 2007 and funded under the Minimum Needs Programme at a cost of Rs 7.5crore will provide safe drinking water to five villages in the Patharkhmah area. Though the project took a decade to complete, its inauguration was a memorable day for the residents of Umsaw, Barigoan, Patharkhmah, Umphung and Umkadhor who had bore the brunt of water shortage over the years. Addressing the gathering, Lyngdoh lauded the efforts of the PHE department for proper implementation of the scheme. The minister hoped the scheme would provide adequate drinking water to the residents throughout the year. Lyngdoh exhorted the local people to work hand in hand with the department to take care of the project so that it served its purpose.
IIM Shillong in Hult Prize finals IIM Shillong in Hult Prize finals
SHILLONG: The Hult Prize has recently announced the winning team from IIM Shillong that has advanced to the 8th annual regional finals of the competition. The winning team members from IIM Shillong include, Shashwat Tiwari, Kratitva Agrawal, Shashi Kiran, Anshuman Jijnasa from Team Engage Greenand competed in the Hult Prize at IIM Shillong on Sunday and built innovative solution to this year’s challenge of building a scalable, sustainable social enterprise that harnesses the power of energy to transform the lives of 10 million people by 2025. The team pitched the idea of using dry baggase manufactured from sugarcane to replace industrial and house coal. IIM Shillong will compete in London for the regional rounds. Following the regional finals, one winning team from each host city will advance to an intensive 8-week summer business incubator, where they will receive mentorship, advisory and strategic planning as they create prototypes and set-up to launch their new social business. The final round of the competition will take place in September, where a jury panel will select the annual Hult Prize winner which will be given a $ 1,000,000 prize.
VHAM Jowai clarifies on syringe supplier
SHILLONG: The programme director of Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) in Jowai has clarified on supply of syringes. N Pakma of VHAM said the two centres in Jowai “never had any dealings with RT Remedy, whose proprietor is Ram Passah” and never received any syringes from the pharmacy. “The accusation that he supplied VHAM with expired needles is false and baseless,” said Pakma. Asserting that Passah was never involved in any wrongdoings, Pakma said, “There was a verbal discussion with Ram Passah to supply VHAM with syringes but nothing was finalised.”
Dancers’ association seeks govt support for DID contestant
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Dancer’s Association (AMDA) led by Kitbok Thabah met the Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, to seek government support for Daphisha Kharbani once she reaches the Top 10 voting round in Dance India Dance. Thabah also spoke to the CM about the pending demands of the AMDA which included setting up of a dancing institution, financial assistance and sponsorship for various competitions and inclusion of dancing as one of the syllabus in schools. The CM has assured him that he will take up some of the demands of the association.
Talks on gender, sexuality held
SHILLONG: A advocacy meeting with faculty members of Shillong Women’s College on gender and sexuality was organised on Thursday. Rebina Subba, the founder chairperson of Shamakami, the organisation that works with socially marginalised LGBT community, explained that it was the society that created the “gender box”. Subba, who is also a lawyer, said barring a few parts of Assam, none of the eight states in the North East has the ‘hijra’ culture. The programme also delved into the social stigma that is attached to homosexuality. Anand Vijay Ishware of The Humsafar Trust, the oldest LGBTQ organisation in the country, stressed the need for parents to have talks on sexuality with adolescent children. “It is important that we let them know about these things when they attain puberty.” he said. The programme was organised by Shamakami in collaboration with Women’s College. The NGO recently organised a flash mob dance, the first time in Shillong, with members of the transgender community at the Cherry Blossom Festival.