Public hearing on Wapung block relocation today
JOWAI: The East Jaintia Hills district administration will organise a public hearing on the relocation of Wapung C&RD block to Lumshnong village on Monday. A former pressure group leader, DL Rymbai of Wapungskur had moved the High Court on this issue and the court asked the government to conduct a public hearing. The Dorbar Shnong of Wapungskur has requested all residents of Wapung Circle to attend the meet and share their views. Meanwhile, the EJNC and also the AJYWO has demanded a new C&RD block at Lumshnong for the people of Narpuh area and scrap the order for relocation.
Thadmuthlong Behdeinkhlam festival concludes
JOWAI: The annual Behdeinkhlam festival celebrated by the Sein Raij Muthlong concluded amid great enthusiasm at Thadmuthlong village in West Jaintia Hills on Sunday. Thousands of people belonging to the indigenous Pnar faith took part in the festival. “We hope that Behdeinkhlam brings peace and harmony to the state besides health and wealth for all,” said Sein Raij elder Meliyo Papiah. The participants danced to the beat of the traditional drums carrying ‘Rong’ –colourful traditional structures signifying evils and social issues. These structures are immersed and dismantled on the last day of the festival in a pool called ‘Thaw-Noh-Rong, at Thadmuthlong. JHADC chief MB Rymbai, local MDC Skhembok Suchiang, MLA Shitlang Pale and other MDCs, including Laski Rymbai, Rudaio Tang and Dollois of Elaka Jowai, Raliang and Nangbah and elders of other Sein Raij also witnessed the festival.
SWGH prepares for battle against measles, rubella
TURA: South West Garo Hills District Task Force on Immunization held a meeting at Ampati on Friday to draw up plan of action for Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) which will begin from September 24 next. In order to make the campaign a success, the District Task Force members will be monitoring the campaign with the support of community leaders, social and religious organizations. The target is to cover 60,000 children between 9 months to below 15 years through routine immunization, which is one-third of the total population in the district. As most of the children in this age group are school students, the first two weeks of vaccination would be carried out in schools and all schools have been asked to ensure attendance of children during the period. The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Ramkumar S., who called for intensive campaign in problem areas in view of high infant mortality rates in certain parts of the district. He also sought for feedback from the participants in the recent workshop on MRVC to ensure that officials of the concerned departments are aware and well equipped.
FIR against kerosene distributor
TURA: Several fair price shop dealers including a social activist from Mindikgre area in South Garo Hills have submitted a complaint and filed an FIR against the manager of a kerosene distribution centre in Baghmara for charging more than the prescribed government rate for the commodity. In a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner by one of the dealers, it was alleged that Rs 8970 was charged for 234 litres of kerosene at the rate of Rs 38.33 per litre when it should have been between Rs 25.51 and Rs 26.07. It has also been alleged that kerosene is only being issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays when it should have been done from Monday to Saturday. An FIR has been filed in this regard with Baghmara PS.
NAAC visit
SHILLONG: A team from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will be visiting Mendipathar College on August 10 and 11. The team will also be interacting with all stakeholders of the college including the present and past pupils to assess the performance of the institution. In this regard, the Mendipathar College Alumni Association requests all past pupils of the college to be present on August 10 from 2 pm to 4 pm to interact with the NAAC team.