December 8, 2021 - Shillongtoday

MSSASA threatens non-cooperation movement against government for non-payment of salaries

December 8, 2021 Shillong Today

'SSA teachers deprived of rights and benefits'

Shillong, Dec 7: The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has threatened to launch a non-cooperation movement against the Meghalaya government from December 21 for non-payment of salaries.

The MSSASA said that this ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ will be for any activities being asked to performed by the government in schools and also other duties engaged and assigned to SSA teachers which are not linked to education till the State Government pay the remaining salary.

“Since the matter has pending for a period of time and keeping in view of the Christmas festival, we are writing once again to request the State government through the Secretary Education to take appropriate actions for release the remaining salary for the month of August, September and October, 2021 on or before 20th December, 2021,” Aristotle C Rymbai, president MSSASA said.

On Tuesday, the MSSASA on Tuesday submitted a reminder letter to the State government through the Secretary Education on the agenda of payment of remaining three months salary.

It may be mention, earlier on November 16, this year a delegation of the association had a meeting with the Secretary Education Ambrose Ch. Marak and discussed the matter to release the remaining three months salary at the earliest possible before Christmas.

The association also said that it will launch a letter campaign addressed to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui starting from December 22, 2021 to January 14, 2022 to air their grievances and followed by democratic peaceful protest ‘Black Flag Sit – in Demonstration and Candlelight Vigil’ on January 21, 2022.

Meghalaya unit of AITC observes candlelight vigil for 13 civilians killed in Mon district

December 8, 2021 Shillong Today

Shillong, Dec 7: The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Tuesday evening observed a candlelight vigil in solidarity with the bereaved family members of the 13 civilians who were killed by Indian Armed forces in Mon district of Nagaland.

The vigil was held at Khyndailad and was attended by AITC Legislative Party Chief Dr Mukul Sangma, the president of AITC Meghalaya Unit Charles Pyngrope and other party MLAs.

The Meghalaya capital bore a sombre mood as scores of people with candles in their hand, braving the winter evening paid respect to the fallen men, who were gunned down by the Indian Army commandoes, who mistook them for insurgents and fired upon them.

“Meghalaya has demonstrated its capability without resorting to adopting to this draconian law,” Dr. Sangma said.

The TMC leader from Meghalaya said that this is something which must be taken cognisance of by government of India and look at all the possibilities of dealing with insurgency and other problems related to terrorism without resorting to AFSPA.

Dr. Sangma also pointed out that the people of the region understand how complex it is to deal with the problem of insurgency.

He also said that if the government understands the complexity of the problem of insurgency and the challenges associated of dealing with it then only they can have the political will to repeal AFSPA.

Meanwhile the Trinamool Parliamentary delegation, has sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (December 8) to hand over the party memorandum, seeking compensation for the families of the innocent citizens killed. AITC has also asked the government to come clean with its position on AFSPA.

St. Xaviers Umoid inaugurated by Conrad Sangma

December 8, 2021 Shillong Today

Shillong Dec 7: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the higher secondary building of St. Xavier’s at Umoid near Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills.

Among the dignitaries present at the inauguration were local MLA and Minister, P.H.E., Renikton Tongkhar Lyngdoh and Regional Development Director, Jesuits in the Northeast India, Fr. Anand Pareira.

During his address the Chief Minister said that the Jesuits have always contributed immensely to the holistic development of the society through their various initiatives.

He expressed optimism that St. Xaviers Umoid will also develop into a ‘centre of excellence’ that will impart quality education to the people of the region.

Impressed by the display of talent and confidence of the students during the inaugural function the Chief Minister also advised students to have a sense of purpose and passion for what they do, adding that there is no substitute for discipline and hard work to be successful in life.

During the occasion the Chief Minister also took the opportunity to inform the people that the Government has secured externally aided projects for upscaling of tourism infrastructure in South West Khasi Hills.

‘Few months back I had come to see some of the tourist destinations out here and based on my last visit, I had prepared externally aided project through JICA and I’m happy to inform you that JICA has cleared it’, he said.

The Chief Minister added that some of the popular tourist locations in the area such as the hot springs, the monoliths and other attractions would be developed under the PPP model with active involvement of local communities.

‘In Meghalaya we have decided that we will partner with the community, not just an individual, and we will ensure that the benefits and returns of whatever investment the Government makes goes back to the people’, Sangma said.

The Chief Minister also said that development of tourism will create environmentally less impactful and sustainable livelihood opportunities for the people.

‘We feel that our people are dependent on resources which are exhaustible whether it’s the forest products or the different mineral resources we have… they have limitations, and one day or one point in time we will run out these resources. Even as we speak our forest covers are being affected because people don’t have the livelihood options’, he said.

He added that it is the responsibility of the Government to create alternative means of livelihood so that people will not depend on forest and forest products or depletable mineral resources and shift towards more sustainable forms of economic development such as tourism.