Rain triggers landslide in Tura
TURA: Two days of heavy rain resulted in a landslide in the congested Rishipara locality of Tura’s Nakham Bazar threatening collapse of some of the homes in the area. A thunderstorm on Wednesday followed by another round of inclement weather on the same night appears to have weakened the soil resulting in the earth giving way on Thursday. The landslide also destroyed the footpath leading from Rishipara to Mondoltilla and the homes of three families – Lal Rishi, Prodeep Rishi and Sudir Rishi now lie in ruined heaps. Rishipara locality is home to several hundred families and lie on the path through which the Babupara stream flows. Several years ago, an entire family, including children were swept away by the strong current when tones of soil came crashing down from above pushing their house into the stream. None of the victims survived.
Emphasis on role of SHGs as savings group
TURA: The Commissioner & Secretary of C&RD Department Sampath Kumar on Wednesday visited Resubelpara in North Garo Hills and interacted with the Village Employment Councils (VECs), presidents, secretaries, nokmas, sordars and job card holders regarding several schemes being taken up by the Resubelpara C&RD Block at SGSY Hall. During the interaction, Kumar emphasized the importance of self help groups (SHGs) which according to him act as a ‘savings group’ enabling the people to save money to be able to meet the expenses in the near future. He also encouraged the women to form their own SHGs so that they can develop into village organisations (VO) thereby empowering women’s groups to act as a bank. Earlier Kumar had also visited Resubelpara Block field namely Chimatcha, Nolbari and Boromiapara where he lauded the VECs for their developmental work adding that “these villages should be taken as role models for the rest of the villages in the area so as to escalate the work progress and achieve what has been targeted”.
JHADC CEM inaugurates school building in West Jaintia Hills
JOWAI: JHADC Chief Executive Member Madonbai Rymbai on Thursday inaugurated a new school building at Khliehtyrshi Secondary School at Khliehtyrshi village, West Jaintia Hills in the presence of JHADC, Deputy Chief Lamdibok Sumer and Musniang Rangad MDC Phasmoon Dkhar. The building was constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh by the JHADC schemes received from the Central Government under the Special Assistant Grant (SAG). According the Rymbai, the JHADC had received a SA Grant for Rs 33. 57 lakhs which was distributed to all district council constituencies and the school building construction was allotted to the Dorbar Shnong of Khliehtyrshi village – the home constituency of the JHADC Chief. Speaking on the occasion, Rymbai said that the school will help economically challenged students in continuing their education within the village. “The school will help economically challenged parents who cannot afford to send their children to the city to pursue their education after finishing their lower and upper primary school,” said Rymbai.
Beh-Kymphui celebrated in WJH
JOWAI: The two-day festival of Beh-Kymphui concluded in West Jaintia Hills on Thursday. The festival is celebrated by the Sein Raij Mynso and various rituals were performed by the priest or ‘U Longdoh’. The rituals started from the official residence of the priest to the Sacred Grove and later to the altar. The Dolloi of Jowai Elaka and his followers participated in the festival.
Science workshop held in GH
TURA: The Department of Zoology, Don Bosco College, Tura along recently conducted a one day DBT sponsored workshop on ‘Maximal Usage of Foldscope to Explore Miniatures in the World’ at its campus. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with Stella Maris College, Chennai and Department of RDAP, NEHU, Tura Campus and catered to the development of technological skill to use the Foldscope – Paper Microscope and the popularization of the same. Speaking during the programme, Vice Principal of Don Bosco College Fr Albert Sangma praised the effort of the department and the resource persons for bringing in in such technology to the knowledge bank of Garo Hills in general and Don Bosco College in particular. Associate Professor and HOD, Dept of Zoology Biswajit Paul delivered the keynote address and emphasized on the impact of science and technology on the social fabric of humanity and how ‘doorstep technology’ can bring about a quantum change in the understanding of science by the masses. Others who spoke included Asistant Professor, Dept of RDAP, NEHU Tura Campus B K Mishra and Assistant Professor, Dept of Biotechnology Stella Maris College Veena Gayathri K. Certificates were distributed to all the participants.
Woman gives birth in ambulance
SHILLONG: Ibakmen Jyndiang (22) delivered a baby boy inside a 108 ambulance while she was being taken to Ganesh Das Hospital from Mawlai Mawtawar. EMT Thelis Nongrum conducted the delivery inside the Lawmali-based 108 ambulance. The mother and child have been admitted at Ganesh Das Hospital for further medical observation.