Teachers rue govt’s neglect of ad hoc schools
TURA, July 7: The Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers Association (MUPSTA), Garo Hills, on Wednesday expressed discontent and said that the government has turned a deaf ear to the demand for upgrade of ad hoc schools in Meghalaya to deficit schools, despite submission of repeated memorandums in the past. In a statement, the teachers, under the banner of the MUPSTA, said that three years have gone by since the proposal for the aforesaid upgrade was submitted to the government and successive reminders were also sent to state representatives including the chief minister, education minister, and others. “We had hopefully waited for a change in the second quarter within the financial year 2021, but the allocation of the same amount of sanction has resulted in unhappiness among the teachers,” the teachers rued. Pointing out that hundreds of ad hoc schools were established even before the conceptualisation of the SSA, the teachers said that the government was doing more for the latter and neglecting the former. “It is a matter of concern to find that a few schools, which were established after 2000, enjoy better perks and benefits than ad hoc schools. How is this fair,” they said. According to the teachers, not a single ad hoc school since 1997 has been upgraded and many school buildings are lying in a dilapidated condition.
MDC seeks power supply restoration
SHILLONG, July 7: Umsiang area under Ri Bhoi has been without electricity for more than a month compelling Congress MDC Charles Marngar to knock on the doors of the MeECL to restore power supply in the area. In a letter to the Corporation, the MDC said, “This has caused a big problem for the people in this area, especially for the students who are having online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the PHCs and sub health centres are also facing problem”. The Mawhati MDC even recalled that he had written to the MeECL on May 28 last year seeking appointment of a new lineman in place of the previous one who died in 2010. Pointing out more problems in different areas of Mawhati relating to manpower shortage, Marngar said that there are one casual labourer each at Somdan area covering 24 villages and Mawrong Road Area covering 12 villages, while one lineman at Umlaper and Umsiang area is covering 34 villages.
Temporary closure of road in SGH
Shillong Civil Hospital on Tuesday. (ST)
TURA, July 7: The South Garo Hills district administration, on Wednesday announced the temporary closure of the road leading to Rongara for the purpose of undertaking immediate maintenance and repairing works. Issuing a notification in this regard, Deputy Commissioner FM Dopth informed that the temporary closure is being initiated for urgent repair of the wooden bridge at Rongara. The road will be closed for seven days with effect from July 8 till July 15.