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In the wake of liquor retailers’ concern over reduced profit margins due to the newly introduced Integrated Excise Management System (IEMS), the state government has defended the system as “aligned with modernisation drives across the country. Excise reforms measures, including IEMS, are aimed at transparency, revenue protection, and aligning with national regulatory trends, according to an official statement issued by the Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps department on Tuesday. Taking note of statements by certain associations of liquor retailers regarding IEMS and rationalisation of retailer margins, the department said, “Several claims being circulated are selective, incomplete and fail to present the larger public interest, fiscal realities and national regulatory cont...

In a major push to overhaul rural medical infrastructure, the Health Department of West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya has launched a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen primary healthcare delivery. On Tuesday, top health officials convened a high-level District-Level Re-Orientation Programme aimed at bridging existing operational gaps and elevating healthcare outcomes across the region. The intensive session brought together Medical Officers and Mid-Level Health Providers stationed at various Health and Wellness Centres. The primary focus of the initiative centers on enhancing the implementation of the Comprehensive Primary Health Care framework through robust collaboration, continuous capacity building, and localized strategies. During the review, participants meticulously evaluated k...

The Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association (JCOMSWA) has issued a formal appeal to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, highlighting a deepening humanitarian crisis in East and West Jaintia Hills. In a detailed memorandum, the association called for immediate government intervention to support thousands of families whose livelihoods were decimated by the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 2014 ban on coal mining. For decades, coal served as the economic backbone of the region, sustaining not just miners, but also transporters, traders, and small business owners. JCOMSWA emphasizes that the prolonged restriction has pushed the community into a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and social distress. The organization noted that the lack of viable alternatives has f...

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Thursday threatened to march to the Meghalaya Secretariat if the state government fails to respond by May 15 to its objections against what it called an “illegal” Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by Shree Cement. In a statement, the JNC expressed serious concern and deep disappointment over the government’s “complete silence” since the council submitted written objections on April 30, 2026, to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, SEIAA Meghalaya, and the MoEF&CC Regional Office in Shillong. The JNC said the EIA report for the proposed project in East Jaintia Hills “doesn’t match with the State of Meghalaya” and highlighted three violations it said were “admitted and printed in the proponent’s own submitt...

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) Western Zone on Friday served an ultimatum of two months to the Public Health Engineering department to address the issue of alleged improper implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in West Jaintia Hills district. A delegation led by the JNC Western Zone president Hamehi Bamon met the department’s executive engineer of the Electricals Division and the EE of the Civil Division to flag their concern on the issue. Bamon stated that following verbal complaints from residents, it found that many villages had completed water tanks and pipelines, but the project had stalled without household supply. “This situation has caused significant frustration among the residents and the council, as many constructions have been left in disrepair without a functioni...

The Lok Bhavan in Shillong recently hosted a special programme commemorating the foundation days of Bihar, Rajasthan, and Odisha, attended by esteemed citizens and guests. The celebration featured cultural performances, including traditional dances from each of the three states. Meghalaya Governor C. H. Vijayashankar addressed the gathering, conveying his greetings to the people of these states and emphasizing their rich historical, cultural, and religious heritages. He applauded the artists for their passionate performances, which showcased not only their individual dedication but also the cultural identities of their states. The Governor took this occasion to reflect on the substantial contributions of Bihar, Odisha, and Rajasthan to the nation. He praised Bihar as a renowned ce...

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H Pala has said that the notification issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) making it mandatory for candidates contesting the council elections to produce a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate would remain valid unless it is legally challenged. “The order will continue to remain in force till any legal challenge is raised,” Pala said. The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday admitted a PIL against the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC elections. It may be noted that the notification issued by the GHADC on February 17 bars non-tribal individuals from contesting the April 10 elections to the council by making it mandatory for candidates to possess an ST certificate. While several Garo tribal organizati...

Voice of People Party (VPP) legislator Brightstarwell Marbaniang expressed significant disappointment in the Meghalaya Assembly regarding Speaker Thomas A. Sangma’s decision to reject a proposed short-duration discussion on the illegal coal mine explosion in the Mynsngat-Thangsko area, which has resulted in 33 fatalities. Marbaniang raised a point of order under Rule 282 to emphasize the discussion's urgency concerning enforcement failures and the lack of accountability following the tragic loss of life. He clarified that the motion was not politically motivated; instead, it sought to address governance and regulatory failures without interfering with the judicial process concerning individual criminal liability. The legislator underscored that treating administrative lapses connec...

The State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority on Thursday conducted the Yuva Aapda Mitra Volunteers Training Programme for students at Ri Bhoi College, at Nongpoh in Meghalaya. The training programme will be held over a period of seven days and marks the third phase of the Yuva Aapda Mitra Volunteers Training Programme in Ri Bhoi district.During the training, volunteers will be equipped with essential skills and knowledge on how to provide safety measures, assistance, and support to the public during natural calamities such as earthquakes, house collapses, floods, and other disasters. The inaugural session of the programme was attended by Assistant Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, Akash R. Marak; Assistant Deputy Controller of C...