The State Govt has constituted a Committee to enquire into the affairs of Jowai PHE Division. The Committee will comprise the following:-

Mr N. Rynjah (Managing Director, Meghalaya Govt. Construction Corporation) Chairman.

Mr S N Bora, Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Govt of Meghalaya; and Mr A B Sen Gupta, Special Officer and Ex-officio Under Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya, Finance Department – both Members.

Terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:-

To ascertain the total quantum and value of purchases made by PHE Division, Jowai, during 1983-84; To examine whether purchases were made according to the requirement of the approved schemes/ projects and the budget allocation for 1983-84; To examine whether purchases were made and stocks utilized and maintained in accordance with provisions of financial rules and general instructions in this regard; To examine if the rates of purchases were competitive; To examine any other related matter and also take into consideration the purchase made during 1981-82 and 1982-83 and the procedures followed during this period; To recommend steps to be taken to prevent recurrence of such state of affairs.

The Committee will submit its report within three months from May 18.

The State Govt would take up with the Centre the setback caused to the tourism industry owing to the restriction on the entry of foreign tourists in the North-East.

This was stated by the Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Mr Salseng C Marak while inaugurating the first conducted tour of the Tourism Department here on May 14.

Foreign tourists are required to obtain the Restricted Areas Permit (RAP) for entering the sensitive North-East. This was enforced in the wake of anti-foreigners agitation in Assam.

Tourism industry, he said, was not for the Govt alone to build up. “We encourage people to construct hotels and private individuals to contribute development of tourism in the State”, he added.

Amina Passah who was the topper in M.A. (History) of the North Eastern Hill University, has been honoured with prizes from Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New Delhi.

Miss Passah is the eldest daughter of Dr. O. Lyngdoh, Consultant, Health, NEC.

The Health Officer of the Shillong Municipality has launched a drive against sale of foodstuff which are potential source of health hazard.

During the last week several raids were made in the commercial areas, particularly in Bara Bazar, in shops dealing in eatables. Trucks-loads of fish imported from outside the State were destroyed under magisterial orders. Besides, surprise checks were carried out at the small eat house, and stale food items were thrown away.

The fish market in Bara Bazar is a forsaken place today. An eerie stillness has replaced the usual humming of people.

Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables have gone up as a sequel to the ban on sale of fish. The local traders say that the prices have been raised at source.

It is felt that the State Agriculture Department should tie up with their counterpart in Assam and make arrangement for the sale of vegetables at controlled price for such time as the import of fish and the like are prohibited. IN Assam, Govt vans carry out daily sale of vegetables round the year at different localities. It would be of great public utility if similar arrangements are made in our State.

The North-Eastern Congress(I) Coordination Committee has described the party’s success in the Mizoram election as “a positive disapproval of the politics of violence inciting ethnic, religious, linguistic and local conflicts.”

 In a joint statement, four General Secretaries of the NECCC(I), Mr B B Dutta, Mr R K Jaichandra Singh, MP Mr Sainghaka MLA and Mr H K Bora have said that the poll verdict was “an event of great political significance as well as of historic importance.

 The statement said “a battle has been going on between two forces – one upholding the unity and integrity of the nation and the other anti-Indian, divisive and fissiparous between constitutional politics promoting socialism, secularism and democracy and those of violence, parochialism, communalism and regionalism. It is this nature of conflict that has attracted the attention of the nation to Mizoram Elections.”

 The party leaders hoped that “a new chapter” would be opened in the political history of Mizoram under the guidance of Mrs Indira Gandhi. They called upon the legislature party to make full use of its two-third majority in the House and take “bold and imaginative steps to bring peace in every Mizo home.”

The Govt of Meghalaya is examining the proposal to set-up a Homoeopathic Medical College in the State. This, along with a host of other steps, is tailored to give a boost to the propagation of Homoeopathy in Meghalaya.

This was stated by the Meghalaya Speaker, Mr E K Mawlong, inaugurating the first Meghalaya State Homoeopathic Conference here on April 21.

Among other steps being considered presently include, setting up of a 30-bedded Homoeopathic hospital and registration of the bonafide practitioners.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr D D Lapang, Minister for Home etc., said that the national programme of “Health for all by 2000 AD” cannot be implemented without the active participation of the Homoeopaths. He said that this medical science had tremendous scope in the hill areas of Meghalaya.

Mr Prethington Sangma, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary observed that the efficacy of Homeopathy should be spread through a sustained publicity campaign in the backward tribal areas.

Dr F A Khonglam, Minister for Industries etc., who is the chairman of the reception committee, welcomed the delegates and the members of the National Executive Committee of the HMAI.

The Director of Health Service, Dr E. Lyngdoh, said that the State Govt had already set up a Homoeopathic Board to look after its interest. It would initiate such steps which would help the spread of the science.

Earlier, the President of the Meghalaya branch of the HMAI, Dr Hain Manik Syiem, called upon the State Govt to create a separate cell for Homoeopathy.

Dr P Mazumder, Secretary General of the HMAI stated that the Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranap Mukherjee, had assured him that during the 7th Plan period States would be allotted bigger funds especially for homoeopathy. He thanked the Govt of Meghalaya for its assistance to the cause of Homoeopathy.

Dr Subhas Dey, General Secretary of the State HMAI, offered a formal vote of thanks.

A scientific seminar was held on this occasion on “Homoeopathy and asthma”. A number of prominent doctor took part.

The Garo Hills District Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society has decided to press the State Govt to allot a plot of land for constructing a permanent building of its own. The Society is greatly inconvenienced owing to lack of its own building.

At the annual general meeting of the branch held ehre recently, a resolution to this effect was adopted unanimously after various speakers stressed the urgency of the matter.

The meting was presided over by Mr K K Muktan, ADM, East Garo Hills. Among others to address were Mr S. Sangma, Hony Secretary of the branch, Dr A K Paul Choudhury, Jt. Secretary and Mr H U Laskar.

The Directorate of Industries has suspended the industrial registration issued to a private industrial venture of Shillong following a complaint against it.
Sources said that the firm – Meghalaya Wire Products of Police Bazaar – was registered by the District Industries Centre, Shillong on March 23 last, although it did not have any manufactring unit locally.
On the directive from the Industries Minister, the Director of Industries, Mr N. Nongbri, conducted a physical verification and found that the complaint was genuine, sources added.

The 5th Battalion of the Assam Rifles celebrated its 64th Anniversary on April 18 some were in the North Eastern Region.

The highlights of the celebrations were Puja in the Unit Mandir, special Sainik Sammelan, battalion welfare fete and cultural programme.

The unit received the massages of greeting and good wishes from the various Army formation commanders.

The battalion was raised on April 18, 1920 as the Darang Battalion. In 1922 the unit was employed to restore law and order in the plain areas of Assam and in 1924 columns were sent to contain Nople rebels to Madras and in 1930 to Chittagong (now in Bangladesh) to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order. In 1959 Dalai Lama with the members of the family and followers entered into the Indian soil through one of the posts of the unit. They had unique honour of escorting His Holiness upto the plains of Assam.

During Sino-Indian Conflict of 1962, the battalions had the honour of occupying all the forward posts and were attacked the Chinese with over whelming superior strength. The personnel of the battalion fought with great valour, courage and devotion to the duty and though they were completely out-numbered on various out posts they held on and only withdrew on orders of the Army Commanders.

There are several instances when Meghalayans were called upon to represent the country in any international meet. But perhaps it is the only time that Meghalayans alone have had the unique distinction of representing a national team at a global congregation. This honour to our State has been brought by three young ladies of Shillong who are presently campaign in London for the international gathering of Girls Guide and Girls Scout being held from April 15 to 23. We congratulate Evamary Swer, Jessica Warjri and Josephine Marbaniang for this distinction.