A competition on Khasi songs was organized by the Hynniewtrep  Cultural and Welfare Organization (HTCWO) here on May 12.
The Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly Mr E K Mawlong, who was the chief guest said it was also essential for the youth to come forward and to compete with others in such fields in the national level as well. “Khasi youths do not lack talent they can easily make a name for themselves provided  they work hard,” he said.
In the men’s category the first prize went to Splinter R Marbaniang, the second to P K Warlarpih, and the third to Besparly Rapsang.
Mishila Thabah, Mary bell Jyrwa, and Duh Duh Lyngdoh, were awarded the first, second and third prizes respectively in the women’s section.
The first, second and third prizes for the best group singers went ot Arthur Kongri and company, Jacinta War and Company and Rinus Lyngskhor and company respectively.
Govt. takes over Commerce College
The State Govt. has taken over the Shillong Commerce College by an ordinance issued hear on May 14.
The ordinance said that the period of take over would be for five years initially. The college which is in a moribund state for nearly a decade was a private venture. It ran into rough weather following clashes between the Education Department and its management.
The ordinance says, inter allia, the State Government may utilize the properties of the College for such educational purposes, including running of science college as it deems necessary.

KJP Hospital affairs

The Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod has accepted the resignation of Dr E.C. Syngkon, Medical Superintendent of the Khasi Hills Presbyterian Hospital, giving a new turn to the affairs of the prestigious missionary hospital of the North-East.

The Synod has appoionted a clergyman to man the post temporarily. Rev. C Jyrwa, the new Medical Superintendent of the hospital, is looking after the routine administrative affairs. The Reverend is the senior executive secretary of the Synod.

Dr Syngkon who is a distinguished medical practioner having 34 years of hospital service behind him, had sent in his letter of resignation sometime back following strong differences between the doctors and synod. As a sequel to the rift, the management had served show cause notices to the doctors who in protest had submitted en bloc resignation. The fate of the resignation letters have still remained unresolved.

Three Cabinet Ministers Dr. Flinder A. Khonglam (HSPDP) Minister, Industries Mr Indro Pariat Minister, (HSPDP) Excise and Mr Kitdor Syiem (APHLC) Minister, Community Development – have joined the Congress(I).

With this the Party’s strength in the Assembly has gone up to 30.

IN their letters to the President of the MPCC (I) they have stated that after their association with Capt. W A Sangma Chief Minister of Meghalaya for more than a year now they realized that “if speedy development of the State is to take place in this poor and backward region it can be done only through the Indian National Congress(I) under the able leadership of Capt. Sangma in the State and the able guidance and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi in the country as a whole.”

Consequently, after due consideration and consultations made with their respective electorate they decided to join the Indian National Congress on the 18th of May 1984.

Capt. Sangma as President of the Meghalaya PCC(I) has duly admitted them into the party with effect from May 18th after consultation with the respective DCC(I) Presidents.

Some Opposition MLAs called on the Chief Minister on May 19 to press for the resignation of the PHE Minister and the Minister of State.

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 During the half hour discussion the Chief Minister reportedly said that he was aware of the allegations. He explained the steps taken by the Govt for establishing the truth. Captain Sangma remained non committal about the demand for resignation, it is learnt.

The Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills district, Mr G N Bhattacharjee, is conducting enquiry in to the alleged fraudulent purchases in the PHE Department’s Garo Hills wing involving an amount of Rs. 1.40 crores.

According to sketchy reports available from Tura, there have been prime facie irregularities in purchases of materials in three Divisions – Tura, Williamnagar and Baghmara.

In Tura Division the amount involved is Rs. 77 lakhs. In Williamnagar the alleged unauthorized purchases amount to Rs. 63 lakhs, while Baghmara contributes another Rs 17 lakhs.

The report said that the Superintending Engineer of Tura, who is in overall charge of these Division did not send any report to the Govt about these irregularities.

The Executive Engineers of Williamnagar and Baghmara Divisions are said to be in possession of recommendatory chits from the “top”. The Executive Engineer of Tura Division, however, has “destroyed” all the chits he had received in connection with the supplies.

Official sources here said that the Govt was awaiting the return of the PHE Secretary who has gone to Tura for gathering a first-hand report of the actual affairs.

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.”