The Government of Meghalaya constituted the Advisory Board with the following members to review the cases detained under the Security Act, 1980:

Mr Justice M.C. Pathak, Retired Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court. (Chairman); Mr Justice B. N. Sarma, Retired Chief Judge, Gauhati High Court. Mr A. D. Massar, Advocate, Shillong.

FCI employees threaten to launch stir

The FCI employees of the NE Region have threatened to go on an indefinite agrtation demanding rescission of the management’s ‘‘whimsical decision’’ to absorb 4000 employees who were on deputation from the West Bengal Government.

In a memorandum, submitted to the Meghalaya Chief Minister, the FCI Employees Coordination Committee has urged him to take up the matter with the Union Food Minister.

The employees have said that the absorption of such a staggering number of staff in the FCI was detrimental to the service interest of the bonafide FCI employees.

It is recalled that the employees have been agitating on this issue since July last.

Artificial limb Centre to be set up in Shillong

North Eastern region’s first artificial limb centre is being set up at the Shillong Civil Hospital under the sponsorship of the Talents Club.

The centre, which will cost over Rs 2 lakhs, will have facility for physio-therapy as well as rehabilitation for the physically handicapped. Orders for the purchase of basic equiprnents have already been placed with a Delhi firm.

The club raised over Rs 1 lakh through a fete held in December ’8l. Later its President, Ms Preeti Mehrotra, collected donations of Rs 50,000. On October 6 the Club organised a charity film show. According to its Secretary, Ms. Neelam Sinha, the show fetched nearly Rs 50,000.

Burglars gang busted, 18 arrested

In a week-long drive against buglars, Shillong police have busted a gang of burglars consisting of 18 persons, including three women.

An official press release said that the gang is responsible for a number of bulgaries committed for the last two months in Shillong area.

Interrogation of the bulgaries led to the recovery of considerable amount of booties including melted silver, brass, articles, stereo equipments, cameras, wrist watches, transistors, table clocks, clothes and other household articles. With the recovery of these articles, a number of case have been solved.

In preparation for the February elections to the Khasi Hills District Council, fresh delimitation of the 29 constituencies have been announced.

In the Bhoi area, a new constituency-Umsning-is being carved out of Nongpoh, Mawhati, and Umroi constituencies. The existing Laitkroh constituency has been abolished, and the areas have been tagged to Laitkroh-Mylleim and Sohra constituencies.

A new constituency has been created out of Upper Mawprem, Rilbong, Kench’s Trace, Madan Laban, Lummawbah, Nongkseh upto 5th mile, Upper Shillong. It has been named as Lummawbah constituency.

Laban has been merged with the entire Malki area together with the right side of Nongthymmai town starting from Rynjah to constitute Malki-Laban constituency.

Under the new dispensation, Madanrting is tagged to Nongkrem.

The revised constituencies are Jirang, Nongpoh, Mawhati, Umroi, Umsning, Sohryngkham, Dienglieng, Nongkrem, Langkyrdem, Nongshken, Shella, Mawsynram, Sehra, Lummawbah, Laitkroh- Mylleim, Malki, Laban, Laitumkhrah , Nongthymmai, Mawkhar, Jaiaw, Maw1ai, Mawphlang, Nongspung, Mairang, Pariong, Mawkyrwat, Langrin, Nongstoin, Myriaw and Mawthengkut.

The Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mrs P.P. Trivedi, has urged the senior officials of the State to tone up administration.

Addressing a conference of officers at the Secretariat here on September 7, she underlined the urgent need for monitoring plan expenditure and sanction of schemes to ensure that the benefits filtered down to the common man.

MPCC(I) President, Mr. J.E. Tariang, and the Finance Minister, Mr D. D. Lapang, called on the Prime Minister at Delhi this week and took up some problems of the State.

In a detailed note, they urged her to expedite action regarding return of certain cantonment land in Shillong to the civil administration.

the two leaders also pleaded with her to introduce direct air service between Shillong and Calcutta.

In another meeting with the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr H.K.L. Bhagat they submitted a petition on behalf of the Meghalaya Film Society seeking assistance to bring out a film on ”U Tirot Singh”.

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Mr. Bhagat, who has agreed to the proposal, also instructed his officers to take up with the Film Development Corporation in Bombay so that the film could be made at the earliest possible time. The question of setting up a TV Centre at Tura was also discussed. Mr Bhagat assured them that this would be taken up immediately.

They also met the External Affairs Minister, Mr V.P. Narasimha Rao and discussed the problems of the border people. Mr Rao assured that the Centre would construct barbed wire fencing along the border between Meghalaya and Bangladesh.

Regarding trade between Meghalaya and the border districts of Bangladesh, the Minister wanted the State Govt to submit specific proposals to the Centre.

The Prize Distribution ceremony of Ramakrishna Mission’s, annual competition for children will be held on Sept. 11, according to a press handout of the organisation.

Over 900 competitors drawn from 35 schools and three colleges took part in the competition.

The Meghalaya State Badminton Association will stage the 2nd Meghalaya Ranking Badminton Championship at the N.S.C.A. Indoor Stadium Shillong, from September 27.

Mr O. Gatphoh, Asstt. Secretary of the Association informs that the last date for receiving the entries is September 20.

Representatives of various women’s organizations in Shillong aired some of the problems faced by the People of Shillong at a meeting convened by the Chief Secretary Mrs P.P. Trivedi here on Oct 5.

Focusing the city’s transport problems it was suggested that more public buses should be introduced to ease the problems of the commuters and to make provision for separate entry doors for the ladies.

The ladies expressed concern over the filthy and unhygienic conditions prevailing in and around Barabazar area and sought govt help to improve the despisable conditions.

Some of them urged the Govt to help in easing the acute water problem in some of the localities in the city. They, informed the Chief Secretary of the inferior quality of rice and other essential commodities being supplied through fair price shops.

The other problems which figured during the discussion were the unsatisfactory manner of handling the milk packets of the Town Milk Supply Scheme; the need for providing public convenience; regulating of parking system for vehicles. Locating “teer” stalls only in approved places; and checking of blackmarketing in cinema tickets.

Mrs Trivedi assured them of exploring the possibility of introduction of ladies special mini buses by the Meghalaya Transport Corporation. She also said the water supply and other problems was being reviewed by the Govt in order to reduce the drudgery of women.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Mr R.V. Lyngdoh, who is also Special Secretary for PHE, informed that by April-May next year the first phase of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme was expected to be commissioned resulting in drastic improvement in the situation.

In an order issued here by the DC” Durga Puja committees in East Khasi Hills have been given nine- point “guidelines” for conducting the festival “along orderly lines” .

The order is an improvement on the previous years in the sense that it has dispensed with the system of obtaining permission. Instead, puja committees are required only to register themselves.

According to the order, all puja festivities “must end” by 8 p.m. Committees interested in holding cultural programmes are required to obtain special permission” from the DC.

The other restrictions are: holding puja in any public area such: as parks, roads, govt office compounds etc ; use of loudspeakers; beating or drums (except at the time of performing puja); holding of immersion precession other than the prescribed one taken out on vehicles along pre-determined routes.

All Committees have been asked to ensure that “they do not disturb people of other communities while beating drums , ringing bells or sounding gongs”. The DC’ has also directed that “there will be no dancing in moving vehicles and the movement of all vehicles carrying images will take place in a sober and befitting manner.”

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are being made to ensures that the festival passers off peacefully, Official sources said that all possible steps would be taken to maintain peace and tranquility.

The State Bank of India observed “Women’s Fortnight” highlighting the important role played by women in the society and particularly, how they can augment their family income by taking up subsidiary occupations with assistance provided by State Bank.

During the fortnight which ended on June 30 loans had been sanctioned by its Branches in and around Shillong to over 20 women for a wide variety of business activities. The majority of the loans are being granted under the differential interest-rate scheme at a confessional rate of 4% p.a.

At a brief function on July 3 the lances were handed over the sanction letters.

The State Bank of India observed “Women’s Fortnight” highlighting the important role played by women in the society and particularly, how they can augment their family income by taking up subsidiary occupations with assistance provided by State Bank.

During the fortnight which ended on June 30 loans had been sanctioned by its Branches in and around Shillong to over 20 women for a wide variety of business activities. The majority of the loans are being granted under the differential interest-rate scheme at a confessional rate of 4% p.a.

At a brief function on July 3 the lances were handed over the sanction letters.