Illiterate widow gets justice
SHILLONG: An illiterate widow, Dhan Maya is entitled to pension, which she had been denied for the last twenty years, thanks to the intervention of the High Court of Meghalaya. Her cause was initially espoused by the Executive Editor of Sudha, an Assamese literary magazine. The respondents, Assam Rifles, Shillong were directed to pay her all pensionary benefits as were due on the death of her husband. The single bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir held that the illiterate woman belonging to a far-off place cannot be denied a vested right of pension on the basis of delays and latches. The Executive Editor and the entire team of Sudha magazine have been appreciated by the court for the social work done.
SSA teachers want govt to clear dues
TURA: SSA school teachers from Garo Hills under the banner of the All Garo Hills SSA School Teachers’ Association (AGHSSASTA) asked the state government on Monday to clear their pending dues. According to a statement issued here, their pending arrears for April and June 2016 and March 2017 were disbursed by the earlier government last year, though it was not in compliance with the Project Advisory Board (PAB) 2016-17. A large portion in arrears and salary is yet to be received by the teachers. PAB is the monitoring authority for SSA. “We are yet to receive eight months’ arrears from July 2016 to February 2017. We demand that the same is released at the earliest along with two months’ salary for April and May 2018,” association president Stickson B Sangma said. The teachers are in a dilemma on how to pay their children’s school fees so that they can be allowed to sit for the half yearly exams as well as admission fees for those who recently passed MBoSE’s Class X and XII examinations. The teachers also said that as most of them are posted in remote areas, it would be impossible to manage travel expenses to get to their schools if the government fails to release their pending salaries and arrears by June 15. The association urged the government to act fast and clear dues in time as per the PAB 2016-17.
GH nurses & midwives reiterate permanent job demand
TURA: Contractual auxiliary nurses and midwives from Garo Hills have urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to look into their demands, including permanent appointments as per merit and seniority. Earlier in 2016, ASWA, a local student body on behalf of the workers had met then chief minister Mukul Sangma that resulted in the extension of the eligible age for permanent appointment from 32 years to 42. However, the demand for permanent appointment as per seniority was not addressed at the time. Last month, the association met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma who assured that the matter would be examined. Recently, the workers met Health Minister AL Hek and submitted a memorandum reiterating their demand for permanent appointment in accordance with the Meghalaya Nursing Act Rules, 2008, and for direct permanent appointment for those who have been serving as contract workers for not less than 10 to 12 years. The workers also expressed hope that their demands would be looked into by the chief minister.
Financial Literacy Week 2018 inaugurated
Shillong: Reserve Bank of India inaugurated the Financial Literacy Week 2018 from June 4-8 at the Conference Hall of Reserve Bank of India, Shillong on Monday. The theme ‘Consumer Protection’ aims to create financial literacy and awareness among consumers about their rights, responsibilities, good practices and resolution mechanism in a fast changing digital financial landscape. The event will focus on four related themes for which the content has been developed by RBI. The themes of the event wlll be on consumer’s liability for unauthorized electronic banking transaction, banking ombudsman which provides an easy mechanism for complaints redressal, good practices for a safe digital banking experience and risk and return. The activities during the week will involve display of financial literacy material in bank branches, ATMs and bank websites and conduct of financial literacy campaigns through the Financial Literacy Centers of banks. The inaugural function was attended by senior representatives of banks and officials of RBI.
BSF seizes cattle, drugs worth Rs 35 lakh
SHILLONG: The Border Security Force seized 171 cattle and contraband worth Rs 35 lakh in the last four days. The latest seizures were in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. The BSF troop stationed at Tuka in East Khasi Hills recovered 24 cattle worth around Rs 3.85 lakh after smugglers left them before escaping. These cattle were being smuggled from India to Bangladesh. Similarly, BSF troops deployed at Muktapur (West Jaintia Hills), Umsiyem and Pyrdwah (East Khasi Hills) and Kuliang (East Jaintia Hills) seized 39 cattle worth around Rs 6.4 lakh while being smuggled from India to Bangladesh.
SWGH observes
Clean & Green Day
AMPATI: A mass sapling plantation and cleaning drive was undertaken on the premises of the South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner’s Office and other government offices and educational institutions on on the eve of World Environment Day on Monday. Talking about the ‘Clean and Green Day’ programme, Deputy Commissioner HDB Sangma, Additional Deputy Commissioner DD Shira and other officers planted saplings around the DC’s office complex here. Earlier, Sangma led the participants in taking the ‘Going Green’ pledge followed by distribution of saplings to officers, staff and other participants.