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.

Governor Bhishma Narain Singh has said that he would make relentless efforts to ensure that on no account the people lost their faith in the gubernatorial office.

In an exclusive interview to The Shillong Times, the 50 year old sprightly politician-turned Governor said that contrary to popular belief, the Governors were not the ‘agents of the President”. He quoted from the Governors’ conference of 1971 to make his point. The framers of Constitution, Mr Singh said, had equipped the Governors with a lot of authority under their elbows. But it was left at the discretion of the incumbent to invoke the powers at the right time and in a right manner. “I am fully aware of my authority as well as my limitation. I will not act like Mohammed Bin Tughlak,” he added.

Mr Singh said in reply to one question that as the “guardian of the State” it was his primary concern to see that he inspired confidence in the minds of the people and set up examples for the Government to accelerate the process of development. “I am totally against maintaining status quo when it comes to economic development. At the Governor it is my bounded duty to ensure that the process of development is further accelerated. Unless I do that people will start losing confidence in the office of the Governor.”

“I have not come here to enjoy tribal dances and merry-making I shall not allow grass to grow below my feet,” Mr Singh made it plain.

He said that he was all for austerity, although the Constitution provided for a great deal of liberal financial powers. “The Governor’s accounts are not audited and I can jolly well spend as much as I wish to. Here, I exercise my discretion and restraint”. As a concrete step, the Governor said that he had discontinued the use of imported cars in order to save some precious fuel. He does not use helicopters where cars can take him. Besides, he has discontinued the system of keeping an exclusive accommodation at Delhi. Instead, he has retained his allotted MP’s quarter and is paying for it from his own account. “Mr Hiteshwar Saikia requested me `not to insult the people of Assam’ by refusing to accept an official accommodation. But I stood firm about it.” The Governor is entitled to take his own cook, orderly and an additional helping hand when he is on tour to Delhi. But Mr Singh has preferred to forego the privilege.

Asked what come first in his priority list, Mr Singh said that he was primarily trying to create “an atmosphere for new development tempo”. Says the Governor, “the north-east is most fortunate to have four-tier development agencies. Apart from the financial allocations from Centre and the State, there were District Councils and the North-Easter Council. Besides, we have very fine people here. All things put together the region is all set for taking massive developmental strides.”

NEC Meeting

The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Captain W.A. Sangma has deprecated the sloppy performance of the Third Level Air Service in the North-East. Participating at the 24th meeting of the North Eastern Council here on Sept 29, he regretted that air service, which was introduced primarily for the region, had cut a sorry figure.

Captain Sangma said that the remote areas of the North East were still left out of the purview of the air service. He called upon the NEC to take initiative to improve the situation.

He also focused the attention of the Council to the failing telecommunication of services in the region. The tele-link between state capital and the district headquarters was “very poor.”

Captain Sangma referred to the ban in respect of creation of new posts imposed by the Centre, and pleaded that such moratorium should not be imposed in the North-East. The NEC Secretary, Mr P H Trivedi told the meeting that the Council was planning to purchase on Dornier air craft in the 7th Plan to strengthen the services in the isolated areas.

Earlier, inaugurating the meeting, the NEC Chairman, Mr Bhishma Narayan Singh said that NEC draft plan for 7th Plan had an outlay of Rs. 979.31 crores. Of these nearly 85% would be earmarked for transport, communication, manpower water and power development schemes.

Mr Singh said that the outlook for power generation was favorable with the commissioning of Loktak and one unit (25 MW) of Kopili project.

General K.V. Krishna Road, Governor of Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur, urged for “special consideration” for the border States like Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura for allocating funds from the NEC in view of their comparative backwardness and isolation. General Road suggested working out of a system to ensure cost effectiveness so that the best use is made of limited fund available.

Among others to address the meeting were the Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr Rishang Keishing, the Lt. Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr T.V. Rajeswar, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Mr S.C. Jamir the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr Hiteswar Saikia the Lt. Governor of Mizoram, Mr H S Dubey, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Gagong Apang, Chief Minister of Tripura, Mr Nripen Chakraborty and Chief Minister of Mizoram, Mr Lal Thanhawla.

Former Indian envoy in Burma, Mr G G Swell, has expressed his desire to come back to active politics. He has conveyed this desire to the Chief Minister Captain W.A. Sangma. Mr Swell called on the Chief Minister lately in this connection and is believed to have sought his help in getting okay from the PM.

Mr Swell, who is presently camping here, was to have taken up his assignment in Canada. The Centre changed its mind and offered him posting in an European country. But Mr Swell preferred Japan.

Sources said that Mr Medistar Warbah, the lone representative of Mr Swell’s PDIC in the present Ministry, had filed an application on behalf of Mr Swell for Congress (I) ticket for the Shillong parliamentary seat. The MPCC (I) sources said that party has since extended the last date for receiving of applications till Sept 30 for enabling Swell to stake his claim.

Apparently, Mr Swell is awaiting Mrs Gandhi’s clearance for submitting his application seeking primary membership of the party.

Meanwhile, some posters have appeared in some parts of town reminding the “unparallel” contribution of Mr Swell towards development of Meghalaya.

It may be recalled that the Jaintia Hills (DCC(I) had recommended to the PCC(I) to allot party ticket to Mr. Swell, even though he is not a partyman.

Reports of “serious (financial) irregularities and unauthorized purchases” in some of the Divisions of the Public Works Department of Meghalaya are causing concern to the State Govt.

In a recent circular, the State PWD Secretary has cautioned all Superintending Engineer’s against overstepping their financial limits. The circular instructed the officers that “no materials should be purchased charging to stock.” It also directed them to educe “heavy expenditure” against suspense head and also to stop `excess over the authorized stock limit.”

The directive further says that all SEs should check and scrutinize monthly purchase statements. The direct purchases should be “absolute minimum”.

Sources said that there were concrete evidences of unauthorized purchases in the Jowai and Tura PWD Divisions. In one specific case, in 1980-81 the then Superintending Engineer of the Jowai Division had purchased excess materials of over Rs. 1 crore. The materials included among other items leakproof agent and thermometers.

The Govt. had set up an official enquiry body which pinpointed some glaring irregularities. The report was sent to the officer concerned for his explanation. The explanations are being examined by yet another committee constituted recently drawn from middle-management officers of PWD and Finance Departments. The State Enquiry Officer has also been entrusted to conduct a probe into the matter, sources added.

The Cabinet Secretariat recently examined the question of making payment to the pending bills of that period amounting to over Rs. 23 lakhs. Sources said that the payment has been withheld pending submission of report by a team of officials about the quality and present condition of the materials.