Meghalaya Nuggets

AHAM supports protest against shifting of farmers’ market
TURA: The A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), while expressing solidarity with local organisations that are protesting the shifting of the Jengjal Farmers’ Market in West Garo Hills, has urged the MDA government to heed the voice of the people. According to a statement issued here on Thursday, vice president of the organisation Georgeprince Momin met various stakeholders as well as the concerned department to know more about the project. “The construction of the farmers’ market in Jengjal needs to be done with active participation and in consensus with the people. If the people of the area are alienated from the project at the initial stage, the benefits will remain aloof and the project may come to a standstill or may not be gainful for anyone,” Momin said. With regard to the issue of land, Momin said that there was no need to shift the location of the project if the survey team had made it clear that there was enough of it for its construction at the original site, while adding that the shifting of the location just brings in needless suspicions in the minds of the people on one hand, and the unwarranted delay in the implementation of the project, the other.

NESAC builds public toilets
SHILLONG: The NESAC constructed public toilets in the city near the secretariat and Umiam market area, which was funded by Antrix Corporation Ltd., Bengaluru, as part of the observance of the Swachhta Pakhwada 2020 under the title – ‘Dioxin to Oxygen’. The pakhwada, organised by the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space, Umiam, will conclude on Saturday. The programme aims to eradicate single-use plastic from NESAC and nearby areas. During the 15-day long programme, various activities like plogging, Swachhta processions, awareness campaigns in the locality, mass cleanliness drive in the office as well as nearby villages of Umiam and Nongsder were organised.

Discussion on royalty deduction
TURA: Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF), District Mineral Foundation Fund (DMF), the office of the DFO, West & South West Garo Hills (Territorial) Division, besides others, convened a meeting with the district officers, contractors, quarry operators, brick kiln owners and stakeholders at Ampati on Thursday To discuss issues related to deduction of royalty. The meeting was called in order to acclimatise the user agencies such as government departments and institutions regarding payment of royalty, MMMRF and DMF deduction while taking up construction work by concerned departments.

Legal awareness programme
AMPATI: The South West Garo Hills District Administration organised a one-day legal awareness programme on “Women & Child Rights” for government officials, traditional heads & women groups of the district at the DRDA conference hall, Ampati on Thursday. The programme was funded by Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI), Shillong. Advocate Satrupa Bhattacharjee, as a resource person, covered topics on Domestic Violence Act, crime against women (Human Rights), role of judiciary and children and women’s rights, among others. District Child Protection Unit, Ampati presented lecture on ‘Sexual Abuse of Children at home, school and other recreational institutions’. Chaired by DD Sangma, EAC, Ampati, the programme was attended by government officials of various departments, traditional heads, women groups and others.

Financial literacy week
JOWAI: The NSS unit of the Kiang Nangbah Government College observed the financial literacy week at Jawahar Navodhar Vidhalaya, Mukhla, West Jaiñtia Hills on Thursday. As part of the observation, a short meeting on financial training was held and chaired by JNV teacher, K Sharma and the Branch Manager, Canara Bank Jowai Branch attended the programme as chief guest and also was the main expert to speak on financial literacy. He also spoke on the importance of life insurance, medical insurance and education loan.

Final photo electoral roll
SHILLONG: The Deputy Commissioner (Election), South West Garo Hills has informed that the final photo electoral roll for the Assembly Constituency of Ampati, Mahendraganj and Salmanpara have been prepared with reference to January 1 as the qualifying date and in accordance with the Registration of Electors Rule, 1960. The electoral roll are available for inspection at the office of the District Election Officer, South West Garo Hills, Ampati, office of the Block Development Officers, South West Garo Hills and all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in their respective polling stations.

Campaign for Kisan scheme
JOWAI: The government of India initiated a special 15-day drive to saturate all PM-KISAN, an income support scheme for all land holder farmer’s families under Kisan Credit Card (KCC). The All PM-KISAN beneficiaries can approach the bank branch where they have PM-KISAN account for KCC to avail the benefit of concessional institutional credit. Banks have been instructed to issue KCC within 14 days of receipt of completed application from farmers. PM-KISAN beneficiaries are auto approved for KCC and require to simply visit the nearest bank branch with a copy of land documents and details of crop sown along with the filled up prescribed one page form for availing the benefit. Those with existing KCC can seek enhancement of limit, if required.