Demand to make Khonjoy PHC functional
SHILLONG: The United Achik Youth Forum (UAYF) on Tuesday met the Director of Health Services (MI) and submitted a letter demanding the appointment of doctors, nurses and other staff for Khonjoy PHC which was inaugurated by the former local MLA M.M.Danggo in January this year. The UAYF, South West Khasi Hills Zone President, Sanggra M. Marak said till date, the office remains non-functional and the doctors, nurses and the other important staff have not been posted. The residents of the area wanted to know why the hospital should remain non-functional even after the PHC was inaugurated. The construction of the hospital started 20 years ago only to be completed this year. The UAYF leader also pointed out that in Gillagora and Moheshkola sub-centres, there are no nurses. Due to the negligence of the concerned departments, the patients have to go to Baghmara Hospital and Shillong hospitals for treatment, he said. The UAYF condemned the negligence on the part of the health department, the ministers and MLAs.
Environment protection programme held at Tyrso Pdeng
NONGPOH: A one day awareness programme on environment protection and preservation of wildlife was held at Tyrso Pdeng village on Tuesday. The programme was organised by the office of the Basin Development Unit, Ri Bhoi in collaboration with the Tyrso Valley Wildlife Protection Society and the Eco Spiritual Missionary North East India with support from various line departments. Those in attendance included D Kharshiing, EAC and Nodal officer, Basin Development Unit, Ri Bhoi, line department officers, headmen and school children. Addressing the gathering, Kharshiing lauded the effort taken by the Tyrso society and encouraged other villages to do the same as well. S Mawlong, RFO Social Forestry, spoke on the importance of protection and preservation of forest and wildlife. Fishery Department representative D Tongper delivered a speech on the importance of preserving water bodies and aquatic life for the benefit of the community. The day ended with a tree plantation drive within the Tyrso Valley Area.
MUPSTA teachers granted leave to attend state conference
SHILLONG: The meeting between the MUPSTA leaders and the Director of School Education and Literacy on Monday regarding the en masse leave for all MUPSTA teachers on July 26 and 27 was successful, stated a MUPSTA press release issued on Wednesday.The Director has agreed to grant the two days leave to enable the upper primary school teachers falling under the banner of the MUPSTA to attend the state conference on Thursday at Asanang in Tura.
Activist alleges harassment by Assam Rifles
SHILLONG: Social activist Joannes JTL Lamare has petitioned Defence Ministers Nirmala Sittharaman over the alleged harassment of Assam Rifles personnel. In the letter, Lamare said the armed soldiers of the Assam Rifles compound at Laitkor, East Khasi Hills, who were on duty on Tuesday night, harassed him and his friends while they were returning from Umiew, Pomlakrai village. According to Lamare, they were stopped by the Assam Rifles personnel at the gate and harassed them. Lamare also pointed out that the soldiers of Assam Rifles had even trespassed into private lands in the past.
Tura water tank responsibility of PHE, says GHADC
TURA: The ruling NPP-led alliance in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council on Wednesday said construction of a new water tank at Hawakhana locality here was the responsibility of the Public Health Engineering Department. During the question hour of the GHADC budget session, opposition MDC from Tura Rupert M Sangma raised the issue of delay in construction of the new reservoir that has resulted in acute water shortage in many parts of the town. However, Executive Member in charge of Water Works Dhormonath Ch Sangma, while replying to the motion, stated that the role of the GHADC was limited to the dismantling of the old and leaking reservoir. “We have completed the process and handed over the work for construction to PHE department,” said the EM before the House. The issue of water shortage coupled with the dismantling of the old tank has led to a blame game between the GHADC and the PHE. This budget session witnessed the shortest question hour with only two questions being asked by the opposition benches. Besides the query on the water tank construction, Rupert also asked about the system to check trading by non-tribals in Garo Hills. Replying to the query on the number of checks for TNT licences, Taxation EM Rightious N Sangma said enforcement inspectors of the department conduct monthly checks on traders for TNT licences. He added that those who do not possess the licence from the GHADC are barred from trading.
Tura hospital performs first ever knee replacement surgery
TURA: In what could be termed as ‘epoch making’ a successful and first ever total knee replacement surgery was performed on a 65 year-old lady by a dedicated team of doctors and nurses of Tura Civil Hospital recently. The operation was led and supervised by Dr. Adrian R Marak, Orthopaedic Surgeon of Tura Civil Hospital. According to Dr Marak, the woman had severe pain in the knee joints and was unable to perform normal errands. Initially, the patient was very reluctant to undergo surgery but after much cajoling and counselling, she relented and is now very well on her way to recuperating from her ailment, he added. Meanwhile, Dr Minakshi A Sangma, Superintendent of Tura Civil Hospital, while congratulating her team of doctors and nurses who conducted the operation, said that though the operation was commonly done in hospitals outside the state, this was the first of its kind in Garo Hills and expressed hope that people with similar joint disorders can now avail treatment in Tura Civil hospital itself.
Civil Works Dept gets highest GHADC budget allocation
TURA: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) tabled a Rs204,53,90,714 general budget with a deficit budget of Rs 95,84,53,588 on Wednesday, the second and final day of the budget session.The executive member in-charge of finance, Sengnal N Sangma, presented the budget that was approved by all the members before it was passed by GHADC Chairman Denang T Sangma. The largest chunk of the budget, an amount of Rs 76,12,20,432, was received by Civil Works while an amount of Rs 23.55 crore was allotted for Loans and Advances Department. An amount of Rs 16,84,43,205 was allotted to Land and Revenue, Rs 15,15,67,600 to Forest, Rs 2,62,85,776 to Administration of Justice, Rs 2,22,33,600 to Agriculture, Rs 4,54,65,328 to Rural Development, Rs 3,17,41,400 to Council Transport, Rs 1,28,23,894 to Relief Works, Rs 12,82,37,947 to Rural Administration, Rs 2,72,25,494 to Council Printing and Stationary, Rs 5,24,49,600 to Legislative, Rs 7,03,91,761 to Taxation, Rs 5,48,51,204 to Water Works, Rs 7,64,80,400 to Tourism and Rs 3,74,86,844 to Finance. Earlier, the Select Committee for Codification of Garo Customary Laws was also re-constituted with MDC Kurosh M Marak as the chairman, Augustine R Marak as the co-chairman, Jogonsing D Sangma (MDC), Sengnal N Sangma (MDC), Winison Ch Marak (MDC) and GHADC Secretary HA Sangma as executive members.
Lukha River association formed
SHILLONG: A new association has been formed which will look into the issue concerning the Lukha River which often turns blue. The ‘6 Shnong Wah Lukha Association’ is an initiative of the Dorbar Shnong Sonapyrdi in East Jaintia Hills after traditional heads had called for a meeting of the villages located along the river such as Sakhri, Lum Tongseng, Shymplong, Borsora and Kuliang on July 7.
USTM to honour SSLC Toppers
NONGPOH: The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya in association with ERD Foundation, Guwahati will felicitate 40 students who had topped the 2018 SSLC examinations under MBOSE on August 2. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui will grace the felicitation programme along with other dignitaries and officials. The students will be awarded with laptops and mementos. The programme will be held at the State Convention Centre, Pinewood Hotel annex at 10:30am.