SWKH among 12 winners of World Toilet Day contest
SHILLONG: South West Khasi Hills district has been named one of the 12 winners of a World Toilet Day competition that was organised by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. The contest, which was held from November 9-19 last year, was an opportunity to re-intensify the Swachh Bharat Jan Andolan at the grassroots level. The awareness on sanitation and hygiene was led by district collectors, magistrates and CEO (zila parishads). Altogether 412 districts from 25 states and Union territories participated in the contest. Congratulating the district administration on the feat, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tweeted on Friday, “Congratulations South West Khasi Hills for being declared as one of the 12 winning districts from across the country in the World Toilet Day Contest 2018.” The award ceremony is on January 16 that will be attended by Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo and the team.
City-based group slams Citizenship Bill
SHILLONG: A Jaiaw Langsning-based group has expressed concern over the passing of the Citizenship Bill 2016 in its present form without the exception clause for Meghalaya. The group has said the recommendation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee to introduce the Citizen (Amendment) Bill 2016 will “change the course of history of the North East by legislation which is unprecedented”. “It will bring to nought everything good the BJP government has done for the North East people. It ushers in misery and heartbreak for the indigenous persons, which is not good for the nation as a whole,” said the convener of the group. It also added that the sentiment of the indigenous people of the North East should not be crushed for the benefit of others.
Forum worried about CM’s statement on reservation policy
TURA: The recent statement in the Assembly by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the state’s reservation policy has sparked apprehension among the members of the New Tura Development Forum, who fear that the existing practice is prone to be disturbed in the future. Reacting to the statement, the forum expressed concern that other parties might now claim that selection of students for various technical studies should be done only on merit basis and not in the 40:40 quota of the reservation policy of the state. The forum also urged the chief minister to re-examine the statement and take remedial measures to ensure that status quo is maintained in the reservation policy.
Meet on council poll preparations
NONGPOH: A meeting on preparations for the council polls on February 27 was held at the office of the Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner here on Friday. The draft electoral roll will be published at 10 am on January 12. The last date of filing claims and objections is January 22 and disposal of the claims will be on January 26. The final electoral roll will be published on January 30. February 8 will be the last day for filing of nomination while the last date for withdrawal of nomination will be on February 9. Finalisation and publication of valid nomination and allocation of party symbol will be on February 12.
Meghalaya book translated into Tamil
TURA: In a first of it’s kind, a book on Meghalaya authored by Janice Pariat from Shillong has been translated into the Tamil language by a group of writers led by South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ramkumar S who are members of the Vishnupuram Literary Forum. The book titled ‘Boats on Land’ by Janice Pariat is a collection of short stories mostly based out of Shillong and it’s nearby areas. The author had won the Yuva Puraskar award for the book. The translated version of the book was released by former Government of India Secretary and writer Anita Agnihotri in Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu, this week. It has been published by Natrinai Publications of Tamil Nadu.
Prohibition of coal-laden trucks
NONGPOH: The district magistrate of Ri Bhoi has, under Section 144, prohibited unauthorised persons with private vehicles for stationing or loitering in and around 25th Mile, Shangbangla Integrated Checkgate, diversion of coal trucks away from the designated NH-6 route without mandatory weighment, construction and operation of the makeshift stalls all along the NH-6 for illicit stockpiling as well as sale of coal, plying of coal laden trucks through Nongpoh-Umden road via Byrnihat, Umsning-Jagi road, Umrit-Umling road and Mairang-Ranibari road to reach Assam. The district magistrate at the same time prohibited the parking of commercial vehicles, coal-laden trucks on the premises of petrol pumps/service centres and parking of more than two heavy commercial vehicles/coal laden truck in one place along the NH-6.