Mathematics is being made a compulsory subject at the Pre-University level under the North-Eastern Hill University.

This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr B D Sharma, while addressing a two-day regional conference on `Mathematics & Mathematics Education” organized by the NEHU’s Maths Department here on July 10. Dr Sharma called for the involvement of the best brains in the country in building up the foundation of science and mathematics in the region.

Mr Oris Lyngdoh, Meghalaya’s Agriculture Minister who was the chief guest at the conference, advocated the need for tracing the reasons why the students of the North-East were shy of taking mathematics. He said that all out efforts should be made to banish the psychological hang up about mathematics among the students of the region.

The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Mr J. Tayeng has reacted sharply to the criticism of lawyers over the shifting of the Executive Courts to Laitumkhrah.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Tayeng remarked that the Bar Library should be located near the Bar. “If the lawyers can attend courts in Jowai, Nongpoh and other places, can they not also come to Laitumkhrah,” he asked.

Justifying the decision to shift, Mr Tayeng pointed out that under the new dispensation, all the appendages of the DC’s office were brought under one complex. This, he said, was of great advantage to the public, especially those coming from the interior places who would be able to complete all their works in the same place and within a short time. Hitherto the different branches of the DC’s office were scattered far and wide giving little scope to the DC to exercise his administrative control over all the branches.

Mr Tayeng admitted that the new location was slightly out of the way. The approach road was narrow, but steps were underway to widen the road and also to construct a new road to serve as an outlet. Some parking space was also provided.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister, Mr D D Lapang blessed the new set up of the DC’s Offices complex. Speaking at a function on July 17 what turned out to be a house-warming get-together, Mr Lapang congratulated the DC for the speedy shifting. He hoped that the public would bear with the administration for the inconveniences caused.

Concerned over the tardy progress of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme, the Meghalaya Home Minister Mr D D Lapang, made an on the spot verification of the project site at Mawphlang on July 19.

Mr Lapang, who also holds the Municipal Administration portfolio, acquainted himself with factors inhibiting its completion.

He has decided to convene a meeting of all the concerned agencies, including officials connected with it as well as the contractors, for sorting out all their problems.

The Greater Shillong Water Shillong Scheme, which has suffered a series of setback since the time it was conceived a decade ago, is already running behind schedule by several years.

The First Phase of the project was to have been commissioned sometime in April this year. Official sources said that some 70% of the works have since been completed involving an expenditure of Rs. 9.72 crore. Owing to inordinate delay in its completion, the Govt has been completed to revise the budget estimate by adding another Rs. 30.08 lakhs, sources said.

The Seventh Intab 6 up Table Tennis Tournament, 1984 in which about 300 junior and sub-junior table tennis players from different parts of the country will be taking part, will be held in Shillong from July 24 to 27 next.

The Intab Cup, which is a national table tennis tournament for junior boys and girls under 17 and sub junior boys and girls under 14, is being held in Shillong for the first time.

Started in 1978 as the `Intab Cup”, also known as the `mini junior nationalists’, the Tournament will be drawing budding table tennis talents from different states in the country to vie for the coveted honours.

The Meghalaya Table Tennis Association (MTTA) is making brisk preparation for the holding of the tournament scheduled to be inaugurated in Shillong on July 24 morning by the Governor of Assam and Meghalaya, Mr Bhishma Narian Singh.

The Shillong Agri-Horticultural Society is organizing a “Fruits, Vegetables and Flower Show” on July 20 at All Saints Cathedral Hall, Shillong (Opposite State Central Library).

The show will be open for both professionals and amateurs who are eligible to compete under different categories for each group at nominal entry fee of Rs. 1/- for cut flowers and Rs. 2/- for fruits, vegetables and pot flowers alongwith the entry forms will be received in the show premises on July 19 between 9 AM and 2 PM and the cut flowers will be received on July 20 from 7 AM to 9 AM.

The self-exiled rebel Mizo leader, Mr. Leldenga’s response to suggestions about resumption of talks for resolving the Mizo problem within the framework of the Indian Constitution has been hailed in the Union Territory. The newly elected Congress(I) Ministry headed by Mr. Lal Thanhawla has started on a clean slate by stressing the imperative need for restoration of peace through co-operation of all sections including the outlawed M.N.F.

The success of Lal Thanhawla-led Congress(I) to enlist support from Mr

Laldenga (through video taped speeches) as well as from the leading figures

of the Church has undoubtedly cleared the decks for facilitating resumptions of talks even though some problems remained to be overcome. These problems originate from the presence and activities of the armed insurgents belonging to the outlawed M.N.F.

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It may be recalled that the Chief Minister, Mr. Lal Thanhawla held a meeting with the Church leaders soon after assuming office. He thanked the dozen church leaders present for their prayers and their concern for peace which was a priority of his Government. He sought their cooperation in restoring peace in Mizoram as also for bringing about moral awakening in Mizoram. ‘‘This,’’ he said ‘‘is an important issue besides economic development’’. He added that he would welcome suggestions and advice from them.

The Church leaders assured the Chief Minister that they would continue to do their best in their efforts to bring about peace. They emphasised the importance of all parties and denomination putting their efforts together towards bringing about atmosphere conductive to peace. They also expressed their confidence that under the guidance of the Chief Minister and his colleagues, peace would surely return to Mizoram.

The Mizoram Church leaders Council has agreed to a proposal to renew contacts with Laldenga, President of the MIZO National Front in a bid to resume the peace talk with the Centre. Mr Lal Thanhawla told EPS that the earlier efforts of the church leaders in this regard were frustrated as the previous government under Brig. Sailo had failed to create a congenial atmosphere for it. (EPS)

Committee Member and Secretary of Assam State of DYFI.

The management of the KJP Hospital Shillong bereft of the services of its doctors, has booked the services of three specialists from the famed Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore.

A senior member of the Synod, who was recently at Vellore for the purpose, told this reporter that the arrangements was finalized with the CMC to depute three specialists – a pediatrician, a gynecologist and a surgeon – initially for a period of one month. The arrangement is expected to be extended but not necessarily with the same set of doctors.

The KJP Hospital (formerly Roberts Hospital) has been passing through a period of serious internal turmoil for the past few months. First, the Grade-IV staff went on a strike demanding Govt pay-scale. This ensued dissension, intrigues and shadow boxing. Following a protracted tug of war between the management of the hospital and its Medical Superintendent, Dr E Syngkon, the entire team of doctors resigned from the service. This left the management in a quandary.

Stung by the unprecedent crisis, the Synod decided to go all out for refurbishing its lost image. The resultant effect is the enlisting of services of three specialists from Vellore, besides engaging some locally available doctors.

A spokesman of Synod recapitulating the developments culminating in the resignation of the doctors, said that the doctors were pressing the Synod for accepting some of their “most unjustified” demands. Their demands include : 1) scrapping the rules and regulations governing the services of the staff as formulated by the management: 2) recognition of the doctors who had put in 15 years of service, as “specialists”, and 3) allowing private practice by the doctors.

“How can we go back to the colonial days when no service rules existed? No institution can run smoothly without following certain rules and regulations. What the doctors wanted was tantamount to authoritarian rule by the Medical Superintendent”, the spokesman said.

The Second Annual Conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Shillong unit, was held here recently.

A seminar on ‘‘Unemployment and Industrialisation Problems in Meghalaya’’, with Dr. Saumen Sen on chair, was held where a keynote paper was presented by Mr K. P. Sarma. The seminar discussed about the growing rural unemployment problem in Meghalaya and vehemently criticised the indifferent attitude of the Government towards the problem. The seminar called upon the Government to distribute cultivable land to the landless peasant, to undertake an immediate cadastral survey of land, acceleration of industrialisation process depending on the locally available resources.

The presidium consisted of Mr Subhas Saha, Mr L.R. Das and Mr Promode Bora presided over the delegate session which was inaugurated by Mr Moneswar Barman, Central Committee member and President of Assam State Committee, DYFI. .

The Meghalaya Assembly on June 28 rejected by 19.36 votes a censure motion against the Ministers holding PHE portfolio for their alleged involvement in the swindling of several crore of rupees, but not before the House witnessed some scathing frontal attacks from the opposition.

The treasury bench was fully stretched to defend the two Ministers after the Opposition launched a two hours blitzkrieg. The Chief Minister, Captain Sangma conceded that “because of some difficulties” there had been “some delay” in ranking action by the Govt. There have been huge irregularities “nobody denies it.” He added “if any of my colleague is found guilty, I will not spare him.”

Capt Sangma appealed to the Opposition to depose before the Rynjah Committee with “more solid proof & evidence” to substantiate their charges.

Mr Salseng C Marak brushed aside the charges by saying “I do not accept that I am directly responsible.” Regarding the issue of slips, he said “my stand is still the same – the slips are in no way intended to convey orders.”

Mr Nihon Ksih denied that he was sitting over files. He said the file was being disposed of in “a normal way”. He flatly denied all charges against him, but did not reason it out.

Earlier, during the debate, Mr P R Kyndiah charged the two Ministers of concealing information from the Chief Minister. (The CM made an amendment to his earlier statement that he came to know of the affairs from the Opposition MLAs; he said that he had sketchy knowledge about it before the MLAs met him on May 5 last.) He said that the Minister were responsible for the irregularities since they did not arrest the expenditure even after being enlightened about the whole matter. He said “the totality of the fact is that they are involved.”

Mr B B Lyngdoh said that they were “guilty of corruption.” The Ministers were in connivance with the suppliers. He said it was not an act of help but favouritism to issue slips in favour of certain suppliers.

Mr E Bareh (MDF) felt that that the censure motion were an act of political mudslinging. Dr B K Roy said it was the “cumulative effect” of the past and not “a creation overnight”. Mr K R Khan (MDF) said there was no evidence of the involvement of the Ministers, the motive behind the chits would become clear on completion of enquiry. Mr B M Lanong (MUPP) said that the Govt could take action against the officers and suppliers, but did not act against the Ministers who had actually triggered off the whole thing. Dr P Pakem said the Minister of State had favoured two of his political supporters by giving them huge supply orders. He said that the Ministers had violated the Constitution by showing “favour and affection” to certain section Mr W Syiemiong alleged that the Ministers did not check the reputation and bonafides of the suppliers before recommending them.

Mr Chamberlin Marak (MDF) charged the Opposition of entering into a “witch-hunting spree” and “character assassination”.

A five day training progreamme for workers in unorganized sectors at Jowai on June 22. The Meghalaya Education Minister, Dr R C Laloo while opening the programme said it was the earnest desire of the Govt to provide more employment opportunities to the people with a view to uplifting them socio-economically on all fronts.

The five-day training programme was jointly organized by the Meghalaya Sub-Regional Workers Education Centre, Shillong and the Meghalaya Branch of INTUC.

Those who spoke at the function included Mr E R W Tariang, INTUC Chairman (Labour Cell), Meghalaya and Mr R N Chakravarty, Education Centre, Shillong.