EVMs commissioned for Ampati by-election
TURA: With only five days remaining for the by-election to the 53-Ampati Assembly constituency, the commissioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was carried out on Tuesday in the presence of General Observer Hans Raj Chauhan, District Election Officer, H D B Sangma, Returning Officer, Dikki D Shira, ARO, Florina Boro and others.
CPI-Meghalaya State Council condoles member’s death
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Council of Communist Party of India mourned the death of Richard Dick Shabong who was an important activist of the party. In a statement issued here, the party secretary, S. Gupta said the party enjoyed tremendous popularity amongst the down trodden people and played active role to organise the muster roll workers and anganwadi workers and also undertook the project to make local craft popular and also imparting training to rural youth. He was also working in the project of water harvesting and his contribution is noted and hailed by some national papers. Gupta said he was a widely travelled person who was motivated by the general welfare of the people. Stating that the party has lost a loyal member, the party sent their condolence to the bereaved family.
MLCU organises streetplay on human trafficking
NONGPOH: Martin Luther Christian University through the Department of Tourism and Travel Management on Tuesday organised an awareness programme in the form of a streetplay to spread the evils of human trafficking that has become prevalent in society. An estimated 700,000 to 4 million people around the world are being trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation each year. In India, Uttarakhand, Assam and Meghalaya, the illegal immigration overlaps human trafficking in some cases especially in the case of women since sometimes women are forcibly pushed across the border. The students of Masters in Tourism and Travel Management 2nd semester performed a short play in the market area of Nongpoh in front of a crowd which consisted of shopkeepers, buyers and school students. The awareness programme was entitled “Human Trafficking: A prevalent issue in tourist destinations”. The rise and success of a tourist destination also contributes to the rise of human trafficking, in which either human traffickers provide cheap and illegal labour in these destinations or they lure and kidnap the locals for trafficking.
Army recruitment begins in Tura
TURA: The Indian Army Recruitment Rally being conducted by officials from Army headquarters in Shillong began Tuesday here at the Dikki Bandi Stadium, Dakopgre in Tura. The rally witnessed about 4000 participants from all 11 districts of the state aspiring for the posts of Soldier General Duty, Soldier Technical, Soldier Technical Nursing Assistant, Soldier Clerks and Soldier Tradesman. Deputy Director General (DDG) Recruiting Brigadier, V M Sharma flagged off the first batch while West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh flagged off the second batch of the mammoth rally here. The rally is being organised from May 22 to 25, with the help of the District Administration in collaboration with officers and staff from Army Recruiting Office in Shillong. DDG Recruiting Brigadier, V M Sharma said that the rally has been receiving an overwhelming response from young boys from all the 11 districts of the state who want to embrace the opportunity to join the elite profession and serve the country. He reiterated that the response was far better than the previous years’ which was possible because of organising various awareness campaigns jointly by the Army and the District Admi-nistration. Meanwhile, Director Recruiting, Colonel A K Sinha, incharge of recruiting in Meghalaya acknowledged the tremendous effort by the district administration in extending full support for the successful conduct of the recruitment rally which will culminate on May 25.
Woman’s commission holds legal awareness programme
TURA: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) in Shillong in collaboration with the National Commission for Women, New Delhi organised a Two Day Legal Awareness programme on Tuesday at Bakdil Training Centre, Dakopgre in Tura. Delivering the keynote address, Chairperson, MSCW and Padmashree, Theilin Phanbuh stated that the Constitution of India has provided equal rights for women but gender discrimination, economic disparity, political challenges amongst others still persists in the state as well in the country. Considering the increase in cases of rape, moral policing against women and children all over the country, she reiterated that legal literacy is crucial and women should know about their rights and learn to live with dignity in society. Highlighting the different roles and responsibilities of the department of Social Welfare, Child Protection Officer, Police and Legal Services in the district, she appealed to everyone to approach the concerned officer and also file an FIR as soon as possible if any incident occurs.
Sikkim volunteers get disaster management training
SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN: Commencing with the first batch of fifty volunteers, the State’s premiere institute in disaster management, Central Training Institute of Civil Defence and Home Guards at Mawdiangdiang will be training a total of 200 volunteers from Sikkim through the collaboration with Sikkim Disaster Management Authority. “The terrain in Sikkim is very similar to Meghalaya, therefore you (volunteers) will greatly benefit from this training” said Rinzing C Bhutia, Special Secretary, Sikkim Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) while jointly inaugurating the training programme with M K Sangma, Joint Director of Civil Defence & Joint Commandant General of Home Guards, Meghalaya on Tuesday. The National Disaster Response Force 1st Battalion, Guwahati in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority, Nongstoin has completed a series of Familiarisation Exercise Cum Community Awareness Programme on Disaster Preparedness for school students, teachers, Village Disaster Management Committees, National Service Scheme Volunteers, Scout & Guides, National Cadet Corps, Women Groups, NGOs, Village Volunteers, Village Defence Party District and Block Officials of West Khasi Hills District.