Month: April 2023

SHILLONG, APR 28: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday visited the newly created tourism amenities at Daribok in the foothills of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Garo Hills.

The newly created viewing deck at Daribok and the approach road from Oragitok to Daribok has led to an increase in tourist footfall. This has also led to mushrooming of tourism related business opportunities.

Considering the large footfall of tourists in the bio sensitive area of Nokrek, the Chief Minister has asked the departments to work in collaboration and come up with measures to ensure that the area is free from waste, plastics and over-crowding.

He also inspected the ongoing construction of the tourist log houses at Daribok. He said that the new tourism amenities which are coming up will be a boon for tourism in Garo Hills region.

He also said that sustainable intervention should be initiated in the area with zero littering and proper waste management. He has also directed the administration and tourism officials to engage with the local community and start intervention like regulated entry with ticketing and parking of vehicles at designated areas away from the eco-sensitive area of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. He also informed that electric vehicles will be introduced for communication of tourists from designated areas to Daribok.

He said that the Government will engage with the community further to ensure different sustainable tourism intervention for the benefit of the locals. He also took the opportunity to urge visiting tourists not to litter in the area.

During his visit to Daribok, he also inspected the Sadhana Forest Information and Learning Centre, which is empowering the locals with conservation knowledge, particularly the children. Sadhana Forest is an international volunteer-based not-for-profit organization that aims to teach local citizens and volunteers about environmental renewal and sustainable living. In 2003, Yorit and Aviram Rozin started Sadhana Forest in Auroville, India.

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SHILLONG, APR 28: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday addressed the National Seminar on “Representation of Women of North East India in Multi – Disciplinary Discourse” at Don Bosco College, Tura.

The seminar was attended by scholars from different parts of the country, and papers were presented. The seminar saw participation of Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma as well. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Sukalpa Bhattacharjee of NEHU Shillong campus.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the government has conceptualized a programme to empower the women through different economic activities. He further informed that through the SHG movement, the government is ensuring that the women are made financially independent.

He told the gathering of a situation, where young women were at high risk due to child birth without spacing of three years and some young women even giving birth to more than five children by the age of 23 years.

“So we had to come up with a solution which is long lasting that ensures the health and well-being of a mother. The Safe Motherhood Programme addresses the concern of the women. We have also introduced intervention that empowers women financially through income generating activities initiated through Self Help Group,” he added, while stating that economic empowerment of women is of paramount concern of the government.

He further informed that Meghalaya is one of the few states in the country, where 95 percent of the women from rural areas are part of the Self Help Group movement. He said that there are over 4 lakh women under the SHG movement in the State, which was around 35,000 thousand prior to 2018.

He further said that the government is working with a positive mindset to provide different opportunities to enable economic empowerment of women. He said that there are different problems confronting women but the government is working with an approach to provide effective solutions to those problems.

“Having a positive mindset does not mean that we overlook the problem. However, we come up with a perspective to address the concern and improve things. It is a challenge but we have to come up with an approach to ensure real change,” he stressed.

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma, spoke at length on the contribution of women in different fields. He also urged the women to continue to overcome challenges and stand tall in making their contribution to society. He also said that women have better convincing power and their active participation is very important in different sectors.

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SHILLONG, APR 28: The Tura Government College Students’ Union (TGCSU) on Friday requested the Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal to reduce the hours of load shedding in view of students preparing and writing their semester examinations.

In a statement, TGCSU president Anand Ch Momin said that the union feels that it is not advisable to have long hours of load shedding as it is going to have a bad impact on the studies of the students.

“Having more than 10-15 hours of load shedding is unbearable, especially during summer not only for students but the person of any age. We would like to make an appeal to the power minister to make amends to the load shedding hours and reduce the hours considering also the fact that students are preparing and writing their exams as well,” he said.

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SHILLONG, APR 27: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) will organize its second phase of public rally on the roster system from May 2.

The public rally is to provide proper and correct perspective and consciousness on the unjust implementation of the roster system based on the unfair premise of the present state job reservation policy, VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said in a statement issued here on Thursday.

The rally will be held at Nongstoin on May 2, at Iew Mawlong, Nongpoh on May 4 and Mawkyrwat, the date is yet to be determined.

Appealing to the public to attend the meetings, Dr Myrboh said the movement has to continue till the matter is resolved.

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SHILLONG, APR 27: The Jaintia Coordination Committee for Reservation Policy (JCCRP) has demanded the state government to review the state reservation policy.

The JCCRP is a conglomeration of traditional heads – Synjuk Waheh Chnong Ri Jainita and Synjuk Waheh Chnong Jowai and pressure groups – JSU, JYF, JSM and EJNC.

In its letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on April 25, the JCCRP said, “(We) strongly demand the state government not to initiate the reservation roster since the time the reservation policy came into effect.”

“In fact we would like to suggest the state government to kindly review and revamp this outdated state reservation policy 1972…,” it added.

The JCCRP alleged that the reservation policy at present is discriminating and bias to some tribes and said, “…in fact our Garo brothers are somehow doing well with their 40% share of the state reservation policy whereas we the Khasi and Jaintia have to compete among ourselves with deficient in amount of 40% share and it’s high time for the government to begin and carry out to review the outdated reservation policy so that it be fitted all the three tribes.”

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SHILLONG, APR 27: The District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills Dr A Lyngdoh on Thursday admitted that there is shortage of medicines at present due to a transition of procurement of drugs in the state.

This was stated in an action taken report in connection with the treatment of typhoid fever cases at Shella PHC and Ichamati CHC sent to the HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem here.

This came after the HYC had written to the DM&HO for providing adequate medicines in the two health centres for treatment of typhoid fever and to conduct investigation into the causes of such disease.

“There is a shortage of medicines at present since there is a transition of procurement of drugs from the state to the newly constituted corporation viz Meghalayan Medical Drugs & Services Limited (MMDSL). We are hereby submitting to the DHS (MI)/MMDSL the list of drugs that are required to combat the current crisis,” Dr Lyngdoh said in the action taken report..

She also informed that a team from the IDSP cell will be visiting Shella on April 28, to conduct an investigation for verification of the cases and identifying the source of illness.

A letter has been issued to all facilities including Shella & Ichamati to conduct awareness programmes on the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of the diseases, Dr Lyngdoh added.

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SHILLONG, APR 26: Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal on Wednesday said load shedding will continue till the state gets some relief in the Grid.

Speaking to reporters, Mondal said, “We are taking all steps possible to see that the load shedding hours are minimized.”

When asked, the minister said, “We can buy within our limit. We cannot go beyond that otherwise it will put us in more financial crunch.”

Mondal said that the situation has got nothing to do with the previous government but it is because this time the rain is very erratic unlike other years where the state received rainfall in the month of February-March also.

“This time we are in a peculiar situation. Though our neighbouring states are receiving rainfall only us we are not receiving rainfall. Only yesterday we got some quality rainfall but it is not going to improve the scenario,” he added.

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SHILLONG, APR 26: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday informed that the work for construction of the Tura medical college is progressing.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said,“We have about 45% of physical progress. There are some problems (and) we are engaging with other nearby hospitals to ensure that we reach the mark of 450 beds as recommended by the MCI.”

She said that there were also certain problems about availability of funds but that also has been sorted out.

The minister informed that she will be visiting the construction site very shortly. “I am waiting for the model code of conduct to be completed quickly so I can begin to go on the ground to understand better but the Tura medical college is progressing.

Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said that the government is yet to formulate a finalized approach on the proposal for setting up the Shillong medical college. She said that the matter has still to be taken to the cabinet adding that “but internally engagements are on”.

“We still require proper cabinet notes to be sent and proper projections to be made but yes Shillong medical college will probably change from the old proposal. We may have a PPP proposal as proposed earlier but not necessarily in Shillong but somewhere in this part of the state but all of this is being prepared now and it would be incorrect for me to divulge too much on that but one message which can go very clearly is that we are concern and we are on the job and we will come up with a proposal and a plan at the earliest,” she said.

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SHILLONG, APR 26: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday said there is a huge surplus of nurses in the state of Meghalaya.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said that there are more nurses than the number of jobs that are available.

“Because of this engagement as an entire department going from previous advertisements that were called, we are now of this opinion that we need to look for avenues for these nurses where do you direct these trained individuals or what do they do next with their lives. So the government is going to be engaging with institutions engaging with various agencies that can help us bring gainful employment to these nurses as there are more nurses in the market than what government intake can do,” she said.

The health minister also emphasized the need to ensure that nurses are compulsorily given an opportunity or made to learn languages or language skill.

“For example, we are aware that several foreign countries require nursing care which is not available in their own countries whereas if our nurses who are already very hospitable in nature, very kind in nature, if they can have a language skill opportunity to pick up a language in any European country maybe if they could learn French, if they could learn Japanese (as) I am told very recently that there is big requirement for nursing care, nursing aid in these foreign countries. So we now need to look at this huge unemployment even in this one category alone,” she said.

Lyngdoh said that the state does not have as many sanctioned posts which is about 1500 plus adding that “we are going to be looking at a probable move to ensure that the sanction number of such posts at least as per national norms are already made available.”

She said, “As every time you have to inaugurate a PHC or a CHC that has already been built and when you suddenly come against this hard wall which says there is no sanctioned post. So we must have all of this put in mind because as we move along in the next five years there has been a huge focus kept on funding for improvement of health services post Covid. Now, we must make sure that once these infrastructures start seeing the light of day, they have the necessary manpower that is there.”

According to her, HR management is very important in the health sector. “I think this is one way we can start seeing a health system which is functioning. We are working on it and today’s meeting is a meeting where we were able to review all of this so that we can perform better.”

She informed that a dashboard will be created in this regard to better manage the HR in the health sector.

Meanwhile, the health minister informed that there are also a huge number of specialist doctors to be filled up in the state. “I think we are at 177 and the national standard is about 300 plus,” she said.

She also informed that another 50 -60 plus doctors are already going for these specialized courses.

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Shillong, Apr 26: The third edition of the Meghalaya State League will begin next month as part of the Meghalaya Football Association’s new vision for the development of the beautiful game in the state.

Twenty-five clubs – making this the biggest MSL so far – from around the state have been divided into four groups that will play their matches in Tura, Mawkyrwat, Shillong and Jowai starting 12 May 2023. The semifinals will then be conducted over two legs, home and away, with the final in Shillong.

MSL 2023 was officially launched at the State Convention Centre here today, with MFA President Larsing Ming Sawyan, Vice-Presidents Gino Sangma and EMH Passah, Joint Secretary Dipshon Ryntathiang, representatives of state associations, team captains and others present for the grand reveal of the trophy, the MSL website (themsl.in) and the catchy theme song and music video by Jessie Lyngdoh and team.

The MSL was last held in 2019, where Shillong Lajong FC took the crown, but then could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The full resumption of football last year allowed for the MSL, which features the top clubs from leagues conducted by district associations affiliated to the MFA, to be held this year.

In his speech at the launch, MFA President Larsing Ming Sawyan explained that the MSL is in a new avatar. “It is now coming back with a new vision and dynamic approach to take football to the next level,” he said.

Ryntathiang had earlier noted the historic success of the Meghalaya team at this season’s Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy where they finished as runners-up to Karnataka.

To this, Sawyan added, “This year’s Santosh Trophy performance was not a flash in the pan. Meghalaya has been qualifying for the final round for the past 4-5 years. Due to the love and support of the people we reached the final but we have more to achieve as we haven’t won the title.”

To strengthen the entire football ecosystem in Meghalaya, the MSL will not be focused solely on men’s football. Instead, it will be the pinnacle of a pyramid that has grassroots and youth football at its base. The MFA President spoke of the need for Golden Baby Leagues to be conducted by every district association from next year. It was the MFA that pioneered the Golden Baby League format in 2018, with the All India Football Federation then running the project all over the country.

“Without grassroots there can be no development. If we only focus on the senior team we will never get to where we want,” Sawyan said. “So the vision plan for next year is that all district associations start Golden Baby Leagues in order to develop football. If we can achieve this vision we will get all that we have wanted as football fans.”

The second arm of the MFA’s vision is to build up women’s football. Sawyan noted that, with the Indian women’s national team ranked around 50 places higher than the men’s, the chances of India playing in a World Cup are greater coming from the women’s team and Meghalaya should be part of that journey.

Meanwhile, MSL Tournament Director Wanshan Kharkrang spoke about how the MSL should aim to be one of the major tournaments in Indian football and be marketed to the nation.

Sawyan also mentioned how the MSL could lead to greater things for the participating clubs. The Shillong Sports Association’s Shillong Premier League had, in the past, produced three clubs that took part in the I-League. The MSL, Sawyan said, can take Meghalaya not just into the I-League but into the Indian Super League as well.

He also thanked the Government of Meghalaya, especially the Chief Minister, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister and Commissioner and Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, for making the MSL possible; the tournament is 100 percent funded by the state government.

This year, Jowai will have the honour of starting the MSL on 12 May at the Kiang Nangbah Stadium.

The Jowai zone has seven teams, with each of the other three zones – Tura, Shillong and Mawkyrwat – having six each for a total of 25 participants.

Jowai’s opening match will feature 2017-18 MSL champions Niaw Wasa United against 2019’s runners-up Rangdajied United.

Shillong Zone – Mawlai SC, Jyntru, Seng Samla Laitryngew, Umkseh SC, Langsning SC, Umrit SC
Jowai Zone – Niaw Wasa United, Rymbai Iawpynsing SC, Mulait United FC, Sein Pynbhalang SC, Rangdajied United FC, Ladthadlaboh SC, Youth Club Pdengkarong
Mawkyrwat Zone – Pyndengrei SCSC, Mawten SC, Riangdo YSCA, Seven United SCCC, Lumdiengngan SC, Shillong Lajong FC
Tura Zone – Chipakkore FC, Warima YC, Wasa FC, Atong Matgrik FC, Khliehmawlieh YC, Selsella Sports Association

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