Meghalaya Nuggets

IIM event highlights need for entrepreneurial thinking in India
SHILLONG, Sep 12: IIM Shillong recently organised the Thought Leaders Conclave, an event that highlighted the need for entrepreneurial thinking in India. According to a statement here, the event was thematised on ‘Experiences in Building World-Class Indian Organizations and Lessons for Entrepreneurship’, and was attended by prominent speakers including Co-Founder of Cognizant N. Lakshmi Narayanan, Director of Kasturi & Sons Limited K. Venugopal, Chairman & MD of TVS Capital Funds Pvt. Ltd Gopal Srinivasan, et al. During the event discussions were held on how Indian companies like ONDC, UPI, Nykaa and Zomato have outperformed global giants through innovation. Whilst Narayanan stressed the importance of technological and data literacy in today’s business landscape, Srinivasan spoke about India’s potential to become a USD 35 trillion economy by 2047. Venugopal, on the other hand, encouraged students to become job creators rather than job seekers, citing former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s belief in entrepreneurs as engines of national progress.

NEIGRIHMS programme promotes consumption, benefits of millets
SHILLONG, Sep 12: The Dietary Unit of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) organised a one-day programme on Thursday to celebrate National Nutrition Month. The programme, thematised on ‘Millets — The Nutrient Packed Grains for Good Health’, was attended by NEIGRIHMS Director, Prof. Nalim Mehta, Medical Superintendent Dr. C Daniella and Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Caleb Harris, along with heads of departments (HoDs), nursing officers and students. In his address, Dr. Mehta emphasised the health benefits of millets and encouraged a return to traditional cooking methods over unhealthy processed foods. An informative talk on the importance of millets was also delivered by Assistant Dietitian Balasara S. Lyngdoh, who noted that they were a staple food in the state during the 19th century. She also highlighted efforts by the state government and other organisations to reintroduce millets into daily diets. Other highlights of the programme include a recipe-writing competition, a cooked millets display competition and an exhibition of local millet varieties from Meghalaya and other Northeastern states.

C&RD minister defends delay in payment to job card holders
SHILLONG, Sep 12: Community & Rural Development Minister AT Mondal has defended the delay in payments to job card holders, attributing the issue to the timing of funds received from the central government. He assured that payments are made as soon as the funds are transferred to the state. Mondal explained that while payments are directly transferred to the accounts of job card holders, pending dues tend to accumulate even as previous dues are cleared. Stating that measures are in place to address any allegations of fund misuse, the minister said that all Block Development Officers (BDOs) have been instructed to monitor the situation closely, and inquiries are initiated whenever reports of corruption arise.

Appeal for creation of crime scene management dept
TURA, Sep 12: Social activist from Tura, Flaming B Marak, has written to Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang, seeking the creation of a Crime Scene Management Department for effective and concrete investigation of serious crimes in the state. In his letter to the DGP, Marak pointed out that police officials, who are not trained properly or possess specialisation for investigation, are currently being used to investigate serious crimes. He added that such a situation cannot provide effective or concrete reports. Pointing out that an expert investigation agency whose staff are well trained and have sufficient qualifications was the need of the hour, Marak urged that a high-level specialised department be immediately created in the interest of justice and for proper dispensation of criminal cases in the justice delivery system.

JNC seeks live screening of local lad’s dance performance
KHLIEHRIAT, Sep 12: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), Khliehriat Circle, has urged the Office of the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner to arrange a live screening of artist Steve Jyrwa’s performance from India’s Best Dancer Season 4 on the large screen of DIPR Office. In a letter, JNC president, Shanborlang Bamon, expressed pride in Steve Jyrwa, a skilled dancer from the Khasi-Jaiñtia community, for excelling in one of the biggest dance shows in India. “We requested the district administration to screen the live show on the DIPR large screen of our renowned artist Steve Jyrwa, at Khliehriat (district headquarters), as a way of supporting the artist,” the JNC said.