Day: June 24, 2021

MSLSA to train para legal volunteers to assist front line workers

Shillong Today
MSLSA to train para legal volunteers to assist front line workers

Shillong, Jun 24: The Meghalaya State Legal Service Authority (MSLSA) in collaboration with the Health department in order to assist people affected by the lockdown due to Covid-19 has devised a programme to train Para-Legal Volunteers/Volunteers to assist the people Front Line Workers in the fight against the pandemic.

The MSLSA has appealed to all the public spirited citizens, students, retired doctors (physicians), retired government servants, retired teachers, to come forward and volunteer their valuable service in the fight against COVID-19.

Interested person can contact MSLSA through email (mslsashillong@gmaiLcom /mslsa-meg@nic.in) or they may call or send a message in WhatsApp to 9089392382/0364-2501051/18003453662

Application in plain paper which shall contain the name of the person, age, gender, occupation, address, contact number, email, etc. A short training programme shall be organised for the volunteers.

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District administration asks shops to display ‘vaccinated’, ‘not vaccinated’ sign

Shillong Today

Shillong, Jun 24: The East Khasi Hills district administration, has stated that in compliance with order of the High Court of Meghalaya and with reference to Health and Family Welfare Department and in continuation to the order of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner should be complied to without fail.

The East Khasi Hills district administration stated that all shops/ establishments/ local taxis/ auto-rickshaws/ maxi cabs and buses should display prominently at a conspicuous place, a sign, clearly indicating VACCINATED, in the event that all employees and staff of the concerned shop/ establishment are vaccinated.

Similar signs are to be displayed in the case of local taxis, auto-rickshaws/ maxi cabs and buses where the concerned driver or conductor or helper(s) are vaccinated.

Also all shops/ establishments/ local taxis/ auto-rickshaws, maxi cabs and buses should display prominently at a conspicuous place, a sign, clearly indicating NOT VACCINATED, in the event that all employees and staff of the concerned shop/ establishment are not vaccinated.

Similar signs are to be displayed in the case of local taxis, auto-rickshaws/ maxi cabs and buses where the concerned driver or conductor or helper(s) are not vaccinated.

The order also stated that it is mandatory that all employees and staff of shops/establishments and drivers, conductors and helpers of local taxis, auto-rickshaws, maxi cabs and buses who choose not to get vaccinated should get themselves tested once in every ten days so as to exercise social responsibility and contribute to the safety of the society by ensuring this safety measure.

The district administration also stated that roadside hawkers and street vendors, an ID or badge in lieu of a sign is required, for which separate instructions will be issued to the Shillong Municipal Board, Town Vending Committees, Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Incidents Commanders, BDOs and Market Committees/CCMTs for immediate compliance.

“Any instance of false information furnished regarding vaccination status will be dealt with as per law, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo stated.

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‘MDA government inept handling of MeECL has crippled it’

Shillong Today
MLA, Zenith M. Sangm

Shillong, Jun 24: Opposition Congress MLA, Zenith M. Sangma has alleged that the inept handling of MeECL by the present MDA Government headed by the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has crippled it and it is almost in debt.

“We have been raising issues of mismanagement in MeECL repeatedly for the last one year. There is no representation in the Board Directors from the Power and Finance Department for a very long time,” Sangma said.

According to the Congress MLA, it is very important for the government to be vigilant on the crucial decisions made by the MeECL, but Sangma alleged that intentionally it was not done because there is a malafide intention.

He also alleged that there is mismanagement even in the recruitment at the entry level.

“Disproportionately creating new posts for additional chief engineers and chief engineers whereas the management is advocating to minimize the burden by outsourcing to other companies,” the opposition MLA added.

According to him, the corporation is generating only 60 MW out of 356 MW of installed capacity because of the mismanagement thereby losing revenue of more than Rs. 50 crores per month.

Sangma also alleged that the cabinet decision to scrap the outsourcing of 56 substations to the company from outside the State and promise to institute an independent inquiry without materializing it, is another eye wash.

What they are doing is just for the gallery. I am afraid MeECL may not be with the Meghalaya government because their intent is very bad and they are paving the way to be taken over by some private company ultimately,” he added.

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Govt seeks more doses of Covid-19 vaccine from centre

Shillong Today
Govt seeks more doses of Covid-19 vaccine from centre

Shillong, Jun 24: State Health and Family Welfare Minister A. L. Hek on Thursday informed that the government has written to the Centre seeking more doses of COVID vaccines to ensure unhindered immunisation.

“Around 98, 000 doses of vaccine are available in the State. We have written to the central government seeking for more vaccines,” he told reporters.

Hek also informed that the government is discussing the issue of incentivising citizens who come forward to take the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Government on Thursday decided that it will take the help of members of the state legislative assembly to ensure that every citizen takes the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We request the MLAs to hold meetings in their own constituencies and urge their constituents to take the vaccine and ensure a massive vaccination drive,” Hek said.

Meanwhile, Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War on the present Covid-19 situation informed that daily cases more or less are constantly hovering around the 400-500 mark.

“We are confident and very hopeful that the vaccination drive which we have undertaken will boost up and it will provide the necessary protection to the people of the State plus it will give the health workers confidence,” Dr. War said.

“There is a slight flattening of the curve and with all the protocols in place and with the decision of the Meghalaya High Court clearly stating that those who spread rumours, on the efficacy of the vaccination severe action has to be taken by the government,” the medical official said.

He also said that as one moves on its hope that although Covid-19 will always be there people will be able to adapt with the situation and let life go on as usual.

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Covid-19 claims 10 more in Meghalaya, toll rises to 807

Shillong Today
‘Covid-19 cases in the state could be upto 25 times the numbers recorded’

Shillong, June 24: The death toll due to coronavirus in Meghalaya on Thursday rose to 807 after it reported a fresh 10 fatalities, the health department said in a bulletin.

East Khasi Hills district  alone recorded 608 death due to coronavirus till date.

The state has 4,424 active Covid-19 cases with 420 fresh positive cases.

Meanwhile, the state also records 298 new recovered cases in last 24 hours, with this the total recovered cases reaches 41,647.

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High Court: Vaccination is need of the hour, ‘an absolute necessity’

Shillong Today
Shillong, June 23: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday observed that “requirement of vaccination should be directory and not mandatory”, even as it clearly and unequivocally stated that “vaccination is the need of the hour” and in fact “an absolute necessity in order to overcome this global pandemic”. Taking up for hearing a PIL moved by the Registrar General of the Court against the Meghalaya Government for making it mandatory for shopkeepers, vendors, local taxi drivers and others to get themselves vaccinated before they can resume their businesses, a division bench of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice H.S.Thangkhiew observed that the advice of the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department that the orders for vaccination should be seen as “persuasive advisory” and “not as a coercion”, was a “step in the right direction”. “Article 21 encompasses within its fold, right to health, as a fundamental right. By that same analogy, right to health care, which includes vaccination, is a fundamental right,” the bench noted. “However, vaccination by force or being made mandatory by adopting coercive methods, vitiates the very fundamental purpose of the welfare attached to it. It impinges on the fundamental right(s) as such, especially when it affects the right to means of livelihood which makes it possible for a person to live,” the order stated. The Court also stated that the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills district for all shops and commercial vehicle drivers to display signs of their vaccination status should be complied with, so that the public at large are provided with an option of making an informed choice. The Court also directed all shops/establishments/local taxis/auto-rickshaws/maxi cabs and buses to prominently display at a conspicuous place, a sign, “VACCINATED”, in event of all employees, staff, driver or conductor or helpers are vaccinated and a sign, “NOT VACCINATED”, if they are not vaccinated. “In the event, any shops/establishments/local taxis/auto-rickshaws/maxi cabs and buses flouts the above directions, the concerned authority of the State shall immediately direct its closure/stoppage of plying,” the Court ordered. On the issue of vaccine hesitancy, the Court said the state government should deal with the matter as specified in the new guidelines of the principal secretary (health department) that the people need to be mobilised and convinced to see the impact of the new intervention for greater acceptance among the communities. “The Court shall monitor this issue closely so that the State Government is able to overcome the vaccine hesitation problem at the earliest and all eligible persons in the State of Meghalaya are vaccinated well within the timeframe as may be specified by the State,” the Court said in its ruling. “In the event, there is any attempt made by any person/organization to spread misinformation regarding the efficacy of vaccination amongst the people of this State, the concerned authority of the State shall immediately step in and proceed against such person/organisation in accordance with law,” the Court ordered, adding that such instances should be brought to its notice. Meanwhile, the Court has fixed the next hearing on the matter on June 30, 2021.

Shillong, June 23: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday observed that “requirement of vaccination should be directory and not mandatory”, even as it clearly and unequivocally stated that “vaccination is the need of the hour” and in fact “an absolute necessity in order to overcome this global pandemic”.

Taking up for hearing a PIL moved by the Registrar General of the Court against the Meghalaya Government for making it mandatory for shopkeepers, vendors, local taxi drivers and others to get themselves vaccinated before they can resume their businesses, a division bench of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice H.S.Thangkhiew observed that the advice of the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department that the orders for vaccination should be seen as “persuasive advisory” and “not as a coercion”, was a “step in the right direction”.

“Article 21 encompasses within its fold, right to health, as a fundamental right. By that same analogy, right to health care, which includes vaccination, is a fundamental right,” the bench noted.

“However, vaccination by force or being made mandatory by adopting coercive methods, vitiates the very fundamental purpose of the welfare attached to it. It impinges on the fundamental right(s) as such, especially when it affects the right to means of livelihood which makes it possible for a person to live,” the order stated.

The Court also stated that the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills district for all shops and commercial vehicle drivers to display signs of their vaccination status should be complied with, so that the public at large are provided with an option of making an informed choice.

The Court also directed all shops/establishments/local taxis/auto-rickshaws/maxi cabs and buses to prominently display at a conspicuous place, a sign, “VACCINATED”, in event of all employees, staff, driver or conductor or helpers are vaccinated and a sign, “NOT VACCINATED”, if they are not vaccinated.

“In the event, any shops/establishments/local taxis/auto-rickshaws/maxi cabs and buses flouts the above directions, the concerned authority of the State shall immediately direct its closure/stoppage of plying,” the Court ordered.

On the issue of vaccine hesitancy, the Court said the state government should deal with the matter as specified in the new guidelines of the principal secretary (health department) that the people need to be mobilised and convinced to see the impact of the new intervention for greater acceptance among the communities.

“The Court shall monitor this issue closely so that the State Government is able to overcome the vaccine hesitation problem at the earliest and all eligible persons in the State of Meghalaya are vaccinated well within the timeframe as may be specified by the State,” the Court said in its ruling.

“In the event, there is any attempt made by any person/organization to spread misinformation regarding the efficacy of vaccination amongst the people of this State, the concerned authority of the State shall immediately step in and proceed against such person/organisation in accordance with law,” the Court ordered, adding that such instances should be brought to its notice.

Meanwhile, the Court has fixed the next hearing on the matter on June 30, 2021.

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