Umroi still a village: Govt clears air

NONGPOH, Dec 2: The state government has clarified that Umroi was declared ‘Census Town’ solely for conducting of the Census 2021 exercise. For any administrative purpose, it is still a village until the government or any state authority declares it as a town in a gazette notification.
It may be recalled that the headmen of five villages and MLA of Umroi Constituency, George B Lyngdoh, had recently protested against the inclusion of Umroi Umdohbyrthih, Umroi Madan, Umroi Jaiaw Pdeng, Umroi Labansaro and Umroi Nongrah in the list of Census Town.
In a letter, the Directorate of Census Operations has requested the BDO of Bhoirymbong C&RD Block to de-notify Umroi as Umroi Town.
This was informed by the Chairman of Dorbar Shnong Umroi Pyllun, BW Syiem, and Secretary RB Makri, after a meeting held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi on Wednesday, which was also attended by the GAD Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare, Umroi MLA George B Lyngdoh, Umroi MDC R Kharbuki and leaders of Umroi Pyllun villages.
Divulging more details on the matter, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, RM Kurbah, said that all five villages still fall under rural areas and are entitled to all pertinent benefits including Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
The village leaders lamented that due to the misinformation relating to Census Town, the people have been deprived of several government schemes.