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.

A conference of the Directors of Employment Exchange of the North-Eastern Region held here recently has recommended a number of practical measures to bring about qualitative and quantitative improvement of the employment services in the North-East.

The Conference held under the Presidentship of the Secretary of the NEC Mr P H Trivedi, suggested the setting up of Coaching-Cum-Guidance Centres for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates to promote self employment and extension of employment information services to the rural areas through mobile as well as extension services.

The other suggestions made by the Conference including improvement of Employment Market Information and Vocational Guidance Programme, establishment of vocational rehabilitation centres for physically handicapped persons and strengthening of the Employment Services at various levels.

Mr Trivedi mentioned about the proposal of the North Eastern Council for placing a couple of officers of the rank of Additional and Jt. Director in order to conduct the programme of collection of information and data on employment in the region and to make necessary analysis of the same for assessing the real nature of employment problem. Stressing the need for arrangement of proper training for the officers in the Employment Exchange Directorates, Mr Trivedi also suggested that certain percentage of posts in the State Sectors should be created as apprentice. He also stressed the need for adequate placement of ITI trained candidates to fill the vacancies.

The Director General of Employment and Training, Govt of India Mr S Venkataramani, while addressing the Conference explained the salient features of the recommendations of the Working Group for Improvement of Employment Services and mentioned that the Government of India as well as the NEC could consider extending financial assistance for improvement and modernization of Employment Exchanges in the region so that the Employment Exchanges could be gradually transformed over the next decade into nuclei of manpower oriented Labour Market Information System

The Assam Rifles Civil Employees’ Association held demonstration in front of the office on June 21, 22% 23 last demanding extension of “Special Duty Allowance” to all the central Govt employees of the North-East.

The employees had earlier submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister requesting her to bring all the central staff in the region under the purview of the Special Duty Allowance.

Mr Hipshon Roy, the General Secretary of the Seng Khasi will repesent the Seng Khasi at the 25th IARF Congress (International Association for Religious Freedom) at Tokyo in July this year. Mr Aibanshanshngain Swer will participate in the IARF Youth programme.

The Seng Khasi joined the IARF in 1980 and two of its delegates Mr. H. Onderson Mawrie and Mr. Hipshon Roy represented the Seng Khasi in the 24th IARF Congress in Holland and Belgium in 1980.

In the forthcoming Congress in Japan several speakers will introduce the Congress theme ‘‘Religious Path to peace’’ from the representatives both of East and West to nearly 400 delegates from Japan, the host country. The working group I to IV will discuss the 12 specific issues of the theme on the levels of theology, and spirituality, emperical fact representation and action guidelines. Several Indian representatives from different organisations will take part as consultants, moderators and panelists.

Dr. Harbans Singh and Dr. Mohinder Singh of the Guru Nanak Found Chakravorti, Director of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Social Education. Dr. Karlekar , Director of the organisation, Dr. Shicashankar Calcutta Soial Service Project and Mr. Hipshon Roy, General Secretary Seng Khasi. Mr. Hipshon Roy is also a member of the IARF Declaration Committee along with Mr. Marcus Braybrook (England). Dr. James Olson (USA) and tthree from Japan Mr.Katsuyama, Mr. Fukushima and Rev. Tazuo Miyake.

A Customs raid in ‘‘Super Bazar’’ departmental store in G.S. Road area of Shillong on June 20 has unearthed contraband goods worth Rs 4.50 lakh.

Acting on a tip off, the officers of the Customs & Central Excise cordoned off the shop and undertook thorough search of the premises. They also searched the residence of the owner and all empoyee and detected electronic goods, including video cassette recorders, television sets, video camera and gold biscuits bearing swiss marks.

A case has been registered against the offenders.

No initiative was more welcome, and more timely as well, than the one which found the Meghalaya Chief Minister. Mr. W. A. Sangma, in a meaningful round-the-table discussion, recently with the Chief Executive Members of the State’s three autonomous District Councils. We cannot recall any such occasion in the past when such a joint discussion was held in Meghalaya and now that such a move has once been initiated it would be the hope of everyone that such conclaves become a regular periodic routine to sort out problems which are apt to create distrust and disharmony between the State government on the one hand and the District Councils on the other. The estrangement which threatened the relations between the government and at least one Council in the recent past would thus hopefully tend to melt away, whatever the motivation or compulsion for the same.

What is strikingly notable is the candour and unanimity which marked the discussion at the CEMs’ conference. This is all the more remarkable because one of the CEMs represented the ruling party in the State, another the recognised opposition and the third an independent. The mutual understanding apparent, and the help promised, at these discussions is what augurs well for the future. Although with the creation of separate tribal States the original purpose of autonomous Councils has considerably been lessened, the mutual Govt.-Council cooperation and Inter-dependence would seem to appear all the greater if the unique experiment of district autonomy is expected to yield yet some worthwhile results.

Mrs Kamala Menon, wife of Lt. Gen. P.E. Menon, Director General, Assam Rifles, inaugurated Assam Rifles Girls Hostel at Happy Valley on 22 June.

While addressing a large gathering Lt. Gen. Menon said that the opening of Girls Hostel would meet the long felt need of providing broarding and lodging facilities to Senior School and College going daughters of Assam Rifles personnel who are scattered almost everywhere in the North Eastern Region. The hostel has got facilities to accomodate 15 girls.

The Finance Minister, Mr D D Lapang, while winding up the general discussion on the budget, referred to the PHE affairs and said “we are equally concerned.” He made it clear that the culprits would be dealt with strongly. Mr Lapang also assured that the State Govt was going to take such steps so that similar lapses did not recur.

In his 45-minute reply to the depleted discussion on the budget speech, Mr Lapang referred to the boycott by the Opposition and remarked that it was very unfortunate the that House was deprived of suggestions and views of the members belonging to opposition. He hoped that their participation during the next session would be forthcoming. He sought the cooperation of the Members in this regard.

He described the Meghalaya Assembly as a “model legislature” in the country. As responsible leaders of the State, the ruling side was making every effort to attain full-fledged development of the State.

Mr Lapang referred to the current year’s central allocation for the state and said that there was an increase of 15% over the previous year. He hoped that the Eighth Finance Commission which had lately submitted its report to the Union Govt. would take into account the special needs of Meghalaya.