Shillong, March 4: Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) first chairperson, Dr. Biloris Lyndem Lasso has passed away on Sunday at Encinitas California, United States after a brief but courageous battle with gallbladder cancer at the age of 82.
Dr. Lyndem had led the first commission from 2005 till 2008. She was a former head of the Centre of Distance Education, North Eastern Hill University and former coordinator of IGNOU Study Centre, Shillong.
She was also the former director of the College Development Council, NEHU and former director of State Resources Centre, NEHU since its foundation in 1987.
In 1999, she had won the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Award for Women Empowerment in recognition of her grassroots level efforts towards empowering women through literacy.
Lyndem had published many books and articles and worked on multiple projects sponsored by the Department of social welfare for the government of Meghalaya.
She is also the author of the Tryst with Literacy: A Meghalaya Experience and of several research papers on distance education mass education and higher education in general.
The national commission for women had also selected her as an expert on Northeastern states and research programs related to women’s issues.
Lyndem had also served as a president of Ramakrishna Mission Secondary, and higher secondary school in Sohra.
She is survived by her brother Reginald Lyndem, daughter Badalin Helvink who is practicing physician in the United States, granddaughter Heather S Helvink and son-in-law Joseph A Helvink.