SHILLONG: The School Managing Committee of Khalu Deficit L. P. School, at   Khalu in Shallang, West Khasi Hills has demanded the removal of the headmaster of the school for allegedly not attending duty for the last 20 years.
In a complaint filed with the Sub-Divisional School Education Officer, Nong-stoin, president of the school management committee Washing G. Marak alleged that the headmaster James Sohbar has been sending proxy teachers in his place for the last two decades.
“We have urged him to attend school on several occasions but to no avail,” Marak said adding that the headmaster was yet to reply to the show cause notices issued to him on two occasions this year.

SHILLONG: Shillong police on Wednesday recovered two unidentified male bodies from a forest near CWE, MES, SE Falls here. Cadavers were shifted to hospital for post mortem.The body of an unidentified male was found near the NHAI toll gate at Mawkhanu-Shillong bypass on Wednesday. Police said the body was found lying beside a motorcycle on the roadside. The police suspect a hit-and-run case.

SHILLONG: Governor V. Shanmuganathan has called upon people to respect all cultures and religions and shun the feeling of superiority of one’s own culture over others. He was speaking at the two-day National Seminar on “Culture and Religion of North East India: Retrospect and Prospect” held at Women’s College here on Wednesday.
The Governor urged people not to be hostile towards others’ cultures but to inculcate values that widen one’s mind.
“Culture is widening of mind and spirit… Culture as a tradition, identity and language unites people as a nation,” he added.
Speaking of religion, he said, “Religion is from the heart. It is the yearning, a genuine craving, willingness and aspiration to see God.” Present at the function were academicians, scholars and students from various institutions of North East. The Governor took the occasion to appeal to all gathered to strive to be a cultured personality. “We must extend friendship and love to all. Let us unite India through great love and affection,” he said.
Among others who attended the programme were T.B Subba, Vice Chancellor, Sikkim University, J.B Bhattacharjee, Former Vice Chancellor, Assam University and President, Education India Trust, Shillong, Manas Chaudhuri, Former Education Minister of Meghalaya, B.B Dutta, Former Rajya Sabha MP and President, Governing Council, Women’s College and Henry Lamin, Pro- Vice Chancellor North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
Technical sessions in the two days of the seminar will cover topics like indigenous/traditional religions, changed/changing religions, culture and society, and proselytisation and its impact.

Interactive session
With an aim to promote Ayurveda, ‘Ayushman’ – the Wellness Centre will organize an interactive session on Ayurveda to be attended by renowned Ayurveda Doctor from Bangalore, Dr. Lokesh Kumar Raturi, who specializes in pulse diagnosis. The session will be held at the Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture, Bivar Road, Shillong, on November 4 from 5:30 pm.
Cleaning drive
The NSS unit of Seng Khasi College conducted a cleaning drive at the Shillong Golf Course on November 2 in an effort to inculcate in the youth the habit of being partakers in the fight against filth and dirt that is threatening to destroy the scenic beauty of Shillong.
Past pupils’ meet
The Synod College Alumni Association will organise a get-together cum general meeting for all past pupils on November 11 at 1pm at Dinam Hall, Jaiaw.
Awareness programme
The Meghalaya Veterinary Services Association apex body together with Meghalaya Veterinary Services Association, Ri-Bhoi will organise a one-day farmers’ awareness programme on November 4 at Pynthor, Lumdaitkhla, near Kurkalang stadium, Bhoirymbong.
Candlelight vigil
Batesi TV and the CSWO will hold a candlelight vigil at Khyndailad, Police Bazaar, on November 3 to from 4pm to 7 pm, as a mark of solidarity with the six victims who were electrocuted on October 27 at Nongthymmai Neng of Lyngiong Village. The general public can also donate for the family of the deceased.

SHILLONG: A door-to-door campaign to make residents aware of free legal aid to the poor was organised in the city on Wednesday.
The campaign was part of the nationwide programme being organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) across the country on November 2-3.
Members of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), including its secretary W. Khyllep, SP (City) Vivek Syiem and elders of Nongmynsong, among others, interacted with people and assisted them in case of a legal emergency.
The poor in need of help like filling applications and those involved in legal dispute but could not afford a lawyer were encouraged to approach the legal services authority.
They were assured of free service in the form of engagement of a legal aid counsel who would represent them in court without them having to pay any fee. The legal services authority also spread awareness about several laws and acts, and rights of people.
The residents expressed gratitude to the group and many of them decided to seek legal assistance for securing the benefits they are entitled to. Awareness on legal care will also be spread through dramas and street plays where students in the Legal Care and Support Centre of Shillong Law College, Lady Keane College and St. Edmund’s College will perform on Thursday.
The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority under the patronage of the Chief Justice and the Executive Chairman, who is also a senior High Court Judge, is doing good work in this area of service to the people.

SHILLONG: Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of India KV Chowdhury has complimented the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) for its sustained efforts towards improving its systems, procedures and manuals.
He appreciated the observation of ONGC CMD that each of the 33,000 ONGC employees is a vigilance officer and is meant to remain vigilant in his/her area of activity at all times.
Earlier, CMD, ONGC, Dinesh Sarraf said the ONGC believes in continuous improvement and looks further ways to improve processes to make them even more efficient, transparent and participative.

JOWAI: Religious elders of the traditional faiths and members of the Raij from Raliang Elaka on Wednesday met JHADC chief Thombor Shiwat with a request to withdraw the appointment of an acting Dolloi following the suspension of the Dolloi of the Elaka.
The elders informed the JHADC chief that the Raij is unable to perform religious rituals without the full-fledged Dolloi of the Elaka.
The delegation, comprising of over 30 members, apprised Shiwat of their customary practices and briefed him on the fact that the Dolloi is also the head of the traditional faith in the Elaka.
The JHADC CEM informed them that the decision to suspend the Dolloi was taken by the Executive Committee. He, however, said that their request will be placed in the next Executive Committee meeting.

SHILLONG: The youth wing of the National People’s Party (NPP) from North Garo Hills has criticised the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) for alleging a scam in the NPP-led GHADC.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, NPP district youth wing’s publicity secretary Salim Marak said GSU president Tengsak Momin’s allegations that the Council’s executive members had misused Central fund is “misleading” as the GHADC had issued a work order for contractors a week back.
The statement further said GSU’s Momin always targets the NPP-led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance and raises issues related to GHADC but “does not see the failures of the Congress-led MUA-II government”.
“There are so many issues which are to be taken up but GSU neither takes up the issues nor raises its voice against the Mukul Sangma-led state government,” the statement read.
Marak said during the GHADC elections, GSU mobilised the entire Garo Hills against participation of non-tribals in the election, but overlooked AT Mondal, who is a non-tribal and holds the post of Speaker in the Mukul Sangma-led government.
Plea to upgrade wildlife sanctuaries
Meanwhile, NPP leader from North Garo Hills Rupert Momin has urged the state government to upgrade the Balpakram national park and other wildlife sanctuaries in Garo Hills so that the animals do not move out to create conflicts with the nearby residents.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Momin pointed out that in NGH, especially in areas under Kharkutta Block, herd of wild elephants take shelter and cause damage to property. He wanted the government to take steps to address the issue of man-elephant conflicts.

SHILLONG: One Borling Nongbri (33) drowned while swimming in a pond at Mawmaram  in Sohiong. The incident happened on Wednesday.  In a similar incident,  on October 29,  one  Nipun Hajong of Umbir village in Ranikor drowned at Umngi river. The deceased was reportedly suffering from epilepsy at the time of drowning.