Shillong, Dec 10: All India Trinamool Congress Legislative Party chief Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday met a clan gathering at Mawbon village in Meghalaya’s West Khasi district to talk about the recent political developments in the North Eastern state.
Dr Sangma told the gathering that Congress had decayed into an old vehicle with a malfunctioning engine and its leadership was unsure whether it could reach its destination. Hence, the 12 former INC legislators have found a new vehicle in AITC that will help the people of Meghalaya reach its new goal together.
The ex CM of Meghalaya told the people of Maw-Shun-Rut constituency that in this era of technology, one had to stay updated at all times and not be misled by anyone. “In today’s world, we have our mobile phones to be aware of what is happening around our world,” Dr Sangma added.
Pointing out that the World Bank had given various projects for the development of Meghalaya, Dr Sangma said that AITC would work together to develop the state and make it a beautiful place.
Shillong Dec 10: International Human Rights Day 2021 was observed on Friday at the State Convention Center, Shillong.
Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya, Justice Sanjib Banerjee graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The programme was organized by the Meghalaya Human Right Commission on the theme “Equality – Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights”
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee stressed on the need to protect the diversity within the homogeneous identity of India.
Lamenting the caste system and suppression of women which are realities to this day, he said that these are an inheritance of a post colonial feudal culture which one cannot be proud of.
Coming down heavily on the VIP culture which separates those in power from the common man, in terms of the way they conduct themselves and the extent of privileges they enjoy, he said that it is futile to demolish mass structure only to feed the VIP culture of the uber cast of those in authority.
“While India boasts of many modern amenities, hunger, poverty, lack of shelter and health care have not been addressed adequately,” he said.
Adding that Human Rights are centered to the very notion of peace and development, Chief Justice Banerjee said that promotion of political rights alone will not lead to full enjoyment of human rights but economic, social, and cultural rights are equally important.
“The Judiciary also has a crucial role to play In safeguarding the individual’s right to dignity,” he reiterated.
Shillong, Dec 10: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) , an umbrella of various student bodies of the region will observe December 11 as “Black Day” in protest against the centre’s implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
In a joint statement signed by NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa and general secretary Sinam Prakash Singh said that the NESO has decided that there will be a display of black flags and black banners in all the important places of all the seven states.
“This Observation is to give a message to the Government of India that we are against this Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019,” the joint statement stated.
The NESO also stated that the observation of the ‘Black Day’ at the same time is to remind the people of northeast and their posterior of yet another political injustice that the Government of India perpetrated against the indigenous peoples of the North East.
“The NESO, calls upon all the people of the North East to support this observation and at the same time to keep on fighting for the just cause which is our God given right,” the NESO added.
NESO consists of the Khasi Students’ Union, All Assam Students’ Union, Naga Students’ Federation, Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Twipra Students’ Federation, All Manipur Students’ Union, Garo Students’ Union and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union representing eight major students movement in the seven north eastern states.
Shillong, Dec 9: The Meghalayan Age Store, which was inaugurated on Thursday, is poised to be this overarching platform that will enable the artisans and farmers of the State to reach-out to the upper echelons of patrons in India and abroad.
The store hosts a wide range of curated products, ranging from Larnai pottery to Ryndia silk.
Additionally, the store also markets indigenous agri-products of Meghalaya such as Lakadong Turmeric, Wild Forest Honey and Sohiong Jam.
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Textiles and Commerce & Industries, inaugurated the Store in the presence of Chief Minister.
Sangma, stated, “Meghalaya is home to some of the best artisans and farmers in the country; however, unfortunately they have not been able to get the real worth of their efforts and ingenuity, and that the Meghalayan Age Store is a step taken by the Government towards enabling artisans and farmers of the State to attain a higher value and appreciation for their products. He also stated that the Store will be a platform for the people of Meghalaya to showcase their products and talent at the Nation’s capital, to a niche consumer segment willing to pay a premium price”.
R. V. Suchiang, the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya stated, “The Meghalayan Age brand is an opportunity for the State’s artisans and farmers to sell their products under a unified umbrella, and that all of the products that are being sold in the store are curated and quality controlled to ensure that it suits to the taste of a premium clientele; for this, she said that artisans and farmers were given the necessary guidance and design inputs through the Ateliers Meghalaya Program. She also thanked the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Government of India for providing a space in the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan at Cannaught place, a location that attracts localities and international tourists alike, for setting-up the Meghalayan Age Store”.
The Meghalayan Age Store is located within the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan at Baba Kharak Singh Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Apart from being a marketing platform for the State’s products, the Store also acts as a gateway for tourists who are wanting to visit the State, by enticing them with a showcase of the State’s culture and its tranquil nature.
For sourcing the arts, crafts and textiles for the Store, the Meghalayan Age Ltd., the State-owned company owning and operating the store, through its ‘Ateliers Meghalaya Program’ provided a grant of Rs. 5 Lakhs each to select 22 master-artisans/curators to work with individual artisans across product segments to develop and aggregate marketable products that can be pitched to a premium market segment.
At every stage of production of these products, artisans were handheld by the master-artisans/curators selected through the Ateliers Meghalaya Program to ensure quality and adhere to design aesthetics suited to a premium clientele.
Dr. D. Vijay Kumar, I.A.S., the Chairman and Managing Director of the Meghalayan Age Ltd. who is also the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya for Tourism and Agriculture Departments when enquired about the reason for the choice of the name of the brand stated, “It is a reference to the geological time period that we are in, and that this era was coined after the name of the State due to the discovery of a stalagmite in the Mawmluh Cave situated in Meghalaya which led to the addition of ‘Meghalayan Age’ to the geological timescale of the planet”.
Talking of the Store, Dr. Kumar stated that the Meghalayan Age Store at Delhi is a showcase of the State’s rich heritage, its arts, crafts, culture, music, literature and food; and that it is also a welcoming call to tourists from across the globe to visit Meghalaya and experience its rich cultural heritage and serene nature. He also stated that each of the products placed at the Store tells a story of the place, the people who made it and their traditions; through which tourists will be enticed to visit Meghalaya.
He went on to say that “agriculture, tourism, crafts and culture are all facets that are intertwined in the story of the people of Meghalaya and are essentially inseparable from each other; and therefore, each product is a treasure that can only be fully relished when the customer visits the region where the product was made in. While asked about the future expansion plans of the Store, he replied that an online version of the store is also being prepped to be launched in the next 2-3 months, and future expansion of the store to other major cities in India is also being planned”.
The architecture of the Store embodies the rich cultural heritage of the three major tribes of Meghalaya, the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, in a modern architectural esthetic; a true depiction of the State’s connect to its roots.
The Meghalayan Age Store is part of the State Government’s initiative to enhance the value for the produces of the State, and to ensure that artisans and farmers get their fair share of the enhanced value. Meghalaya Age Ltd., is also working on an online version of the store, this expected to be launched within the next 2-3 months.
Future expansion of the Store to other majors cities in India is also in the pipeline.
