A review meeting – first of the officials followed by a Ministerial one -will be held here on January 16 and 18 respectively to take stock of the progress of the implementation of the 20-point programme in the far eastern region.

This is the first time that such a review meeting is being held at the regional level. Officials and Ministerial representatives from Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur and Tripura, besides officials from the Central Government, are expected to take part in the deliberations.

The Union Minister for Housing 4 and Works, Mr Buta Singh, will attend the meeting on January 18.

The extreme violence in Tripura continues unabated and there have been considerable loss of lives in recent weeks, generating an overall impression of insecurity in that State. The Centre should, therefore, feel naturally concerned, the more so because Tripura’s geographical location is of such immensely strategic importance. From this point of view the Centre’s reported move to send a team comprising Army, BSF and CRPF representatives for an overall assessment of the local situation need scarcely be viewed with any displeasure or suspicion; but this is precisely what the State government has been doing. Agartala had never been reconciled to an impressive presence in the State of the Army and the result has been that the latter has not found to be as effective as it was expected to be in view of its creditable performance in Mizoram. The induction of a Governor with military background has not so far been found worth it for bridging the gulf.

The Chief Minister’s repeated assertion that the Tripura unrest is basically a political problem is true, if at all, only partially. Not all types of extremist violence may be amenable to the political solution, however well-intentioned the motive or the moves initiated, so far as theory goes and even the manoeuvrings. Those extremist overtures, particularly the ones backed by active foreign patronage and help, clearly calls for measures which are not within the purview or corapstence of a State government. Here it is that the Centre has clearly a role to perform and a sacred responsibility to discharge in the cause of national security and sovereignty .

The Meghalaya Assembly will hold a one-day session on October 8 to ratify Constitution amendment paving way for reservation of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for Scheduled Tribes in Meghalaya and some other North Eastern States.

A farmers’ rally held here recently has expressed concern over the failure of the Agriculture Department of provide bonemeal and other fertilizers in Jaintia Hills district.

The chairman of the Jaintia Hills Farmers’ Union, Mr E. R. W. Tariang, said that many cultivators had been compelled to abandon their cultivation owing to non – availability of fertilizer, He regretted that the elected representatives from the district were apathetic towards the farmers.

Mr N. E. Kamar, Secretary of the Union, presented a report on its activities so far.

In order to narrow the existing gap technical manpower in the Hill and Tribal Areas of the North East, the NEC has decided to implement a pilot scheme from the current financial year to provide intensive training annually to 665 teachers of Higher Secondary, Middle and Primary Schools of the Region in science and mathematics.

The North Eastern Council in the meanwhile has accorded sanction for an amount of Rs. 18,23,500 to implement this scheme as a pilot project till 1986 initially. The scheme aims at bringing about improvement of science and mathematics education at school level in the Region by providing necessary training to the existing large number of untrained and under qualified teachers and also by providing support and augment infrastructure for teaching of science and mathematics in the schools and to strengthen the existing State Institutes of Education/SCERT/SIE.

According to the scheme which will be implemented by the Directorate of Education of the Constituent States and Union Territories of the Region the State Institute of Education/SCERT of each of the Constituent Units will be strengthened by providing three qualified teachers for Mathematics, Biology and Physics and Chemistry. At the Higher Secondary level 21 teachers in science and mathematics will be trained in one course from each State/U.T. during 1984-85. At the middle School level altogether 24 teachers covering 8 school of each of the Constituent Units will be trained in science and mathematics in one training camp. At the Primary level refresher training with emphasis on teaching of science and mathematics will be imparted to 50 teachers from each State.

It may be mentioned that the NEC constituted at Working Group in 1982 consisting of Secretaries of Education of Constituent Units of the North Eastern and Director of Manpower Development, North Eastern Council as study the issues of strengthening of teaching of science and mathematics in the region. The Working Group identified the existing deficiency and gaps in the areas like lack of proper infrastructure for teaching of science and mathematics in the school especially in the rural and hill areas lack of proper motivation for learning of science and mathematics from primary level upwards and existence of large number of untrained and under qualified teachers. The Working Group recommended for establishment of a Regional Training Institute for teachers and key resource personnel, strengthening of existing Teachers’ Training Institute of States and Union Territories, one Model Higher Secondary School in each district, one Middle School in each block and enlargement of admission capacity at College in science and mathematics group.

The Fact Finding Team constituted by the Ministry of Education & Cultural of Government of India under the Chairmanship of Dr. R.C. Das, Head of the Department of Teachers’ Education NCERT also recommended training of untrained teacher and revision of the syllabus of the State Teachers’ Training Institute.

General complaint of misbehavior, over-charging of fare and refusing customer by the taxi drivers were discussed recently at a meeting here between the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Shillong and the Shillong Taxi Owners’ Association. (STOA).

An official press release said that it was decided that while taxis should display name of owners, permit number and fare rates, drivers should also wear a badge indicating their name and licence number for the information of passengers. Taxi drivers refuse to take passengers to any place they want to go.

With a view to making identification of the taxis cashier the meeting also decided that the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) should issue serial numbers to be displayed by taxis.

To help people locate and board taxis with ease, the meeting requested the authorities concerned to allot specific parking areas for taxis in the town. In this regard commuters were also requested not to stop taxis unless the vehicles are without passengers.

Subject to the satisfactory report from technical experts as to their road worthiness, the meeting decided to ply in the town.

The food and Civil Supplies Department reviewed the price situation and availability of essential commodities in the State at a meeting held on September 11. It noted that the availability of stocks has considerably improve and prices had registered a downward trend.

An official press release claimed that this improvement has taken place due to “corrective measures” initiated by the Government which include enforcement of Statutory Orders and regular monitoring of prices and stock through meetings with the trading community.

A marked decline in prices was noted in the following essential commodities: Rice Rs. 20.00 per qtl. Sugar Rs. 5.00 per qtl. Moogdal Rs. 50.00 per qtl. Arahar Rs. 10.00 per qtl, M.Oil Rs. 5.00 per qtl. Onion Rs. 30.00 per qtl.

The Food & Supplies Minister, Mr S C Marak who presided over the meeting reviewed other aspects of the functioning of the Supply Department and emphasized needs to improve efficiency and alertness of the officers and staff. He said vigilance should be maintained against undesirable practices. Constant efforts were also made to stabilize the price and stressed that consumers should be protected against exploitation by unscrupulous elements on the quality and price of essential commodities supplied to the people. He appealed to the consumers to bring to the notice of Government instances of malpractices. The meeting decided that such review meetings will also held at District headquarters.

The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Capt W.A. Sangma inaugurated the newly constructed Civil Hospital at Williamnagar on September 14 last. The total estimate of the hospital complex is about Rs. 73 lakhs which includes Rs. 16 lakhs for the hospital building.

Speaking on the occasion he said “finance along cannot bring development to the state but a strong determination and resolute efforts of the people are the best means to ensure speedy al round development and progress.”

Expressing concern over the acute shortage of trained manpower in the various government developmental departments in Meghalaya, Capt Sangma said that unless this problem was overcome the people of the state would not be able to realize their objectives.

The Meghalaya Health Minister, Mr Sandford K Marak, presided over the function.

Among those who spoke were the Civil Surgeon, Dr J L Kar, the Deputy Commissioner, East Garo Hills District, Mr M K Das, the Garo Hills District Council Executive member, Mr Choronsing Sangma and Mr Projengton Momin, former MDC.