Meghalaya

In a targeted effort to elevate the standard of education and address core learning gaps, the Government of Meghalaya on Wednesday officially launched the “CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Meghalaya” programme.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the initiative at the Assembly Annexe Hall in Shillong, marking a structured step toward universal reading readiness for school children across the State.The Read & Rise Meghalaya” initiative (Meghalaya Universal Reading Readiness Pro-gramme), is a primary pillar of the broader educational reform mandate, CM-IMPACT (Chief Minister’s Initiative for Maximising Pass Achievement and Classroom Triumph).The programme is designed to ensure students develop grade-appropriate reading abilities, providing the necessary foundation for overall ...

Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Tuesday placed a 10-point charter before the Meghalaya Assembly, raising concerns over land, recruitment, jobs, influx, industrial projects and natural resources. During a short-duration discussion, Basaiawmoit demanded that the proposed Lumpongdeng project be scrapped and sought a white paper detailing the land involved, environmental impact, compensation, financial commitments and expected benefits to the state. He stressed that development must have the consent of affected communities. On recruitment, the VPP called for greater independence and transparency in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and District Selection Committees, along with safeguards against political interference and di...

Meghalaya Police have arrested another leader of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in connection with the violence that broke out during a KSU rally in Shillong on August 19. With the latest arrest, four KSU leaders have so far been arrested in connection with the case. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma condemned the violence during the ongoing autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible. According to figures presented by the Chief Minister, a total of 31 vehicles were damaged during the violence, including eight vehicles registered in Assam. As many as 18 people were injured and received treatment at Shillong Civil Hospital. The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed ...

On the second day of the Meghalaya Assembly, Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said that the tourism sector has suffered losses of nearly 100 percent.The Tourism Minister said the number of tourists visiting Meghalaya had fallen sharply due to the dispute. Road blockages and the situation involving vehicles have directly affected hotels, homestays, and local businesses dependent on tourism. Although issue had been resolved following discussions between the chief ministers of the two states. Therefore, there is now no need for any blockade or restriction on vehicle movement. He further stated that the Meghalaya government will compensate owners of Assam vehicles that were damaged during the dispute. He also stressed the need to restore normal movement of vehicles between the two stat...

The Meghalaya government introduced 10 bills on the first day of the Autumn Session of the State Assembly, covering official languages, forest administration, money lending, public services and higher education. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma introduced the Meghalaya Official Language Bill 2026, which seeks to replace the existing ordinance and pave the way for Khasi and Garo to be recognised as official languages alongside English, rather than only as associate official languages. Sangma also introduced amendments to the Meghalaya Forest Authority Act to provide state grants and establish a dedicated fund for the authority. Another key proposal, the Meghalaya Money Lenders and Accredited Loan Providers’ Bill 2026, seeks to replace the existing legislation and reform the regulation of mon...

The Directorate of Arts and Culture has decided to take up the immediate restoration and re-installation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose statue at R&R Colony following its desecration by unidentified anti-social elements during the KSU black-flag bike rally on August 19. A meeting held on August 21 in the office chamber of the Director, Arts and Culture, reviewed the incident and the condition of the associated civil works at the site. The department decided to take necessary steps for the restoration and re-installation of the Netaji statue. The office-bearers of the R&R Colony Welfare Society will handle the repair and restoration of the statue of Swami Vivekananda in collaboration with the Arts and Culture Department. The department will process the matter on priorit...

Two men have been arrested for allegedly leading a mob attack on three people suspected of theft at Mawngap in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police said. The incident took place around 5.40 am on August 23, when police received information that three suspected thieves had been caught by members of the public at 11 Mer, Mylliem. A team from Mawngap police station reached the spot and found the three being assaulted by a mob. Police intervened and rescued them, but officers and personnel were also allegedly manhandled and verbally abused while trying to disperse the crowd. The three injured persons were identified as 25-year-old Banshan Kurbah of Mairang, Lumkyllang; 26-year-old Albert Marbaniang of Mawlai Mawtawar; and 27-year-old Ibalabet Kharmwlong, also of Mawlai Mawta...

The Jaintia Students' Union (JSU) has filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Meghalaya High Court challenging the environmental public hearing held on July 31, 2026, for the proposed Shree Cement Ltd mining project at Lum Syrman, Elaka Nongkhlieh. The PIL was filed by a JSU delegation led by Education Secretary Bocheru Mi Pohsnem and General Secretary Neilkee Mukhim. The union said it moved the High Court after exhausting administrative and statutory remedies, alleging that its representations and FIRs had failed to prompt corrective action from the authorities. It said complaints before the Meghalaya Human RightsCommission and proceedings before the National Green Tribunal were also pending. The JSU alleged that the mandatory public hearing was reduced to a 46-minute exercis...

Tourist taxi associations in Meghalaya have temporarily suspended their agitation against the entry of Assam-registered vehicles following assurances from the state government to address their concerns by September 10. The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association and All Shillong Tourist Taxi Association announced the decision after meeting Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar and senior officials on Sunday. The associations had restricted Assam tourist taxis from entering Shillong, citing difficulties faced by Meghalaya drivers in Assam following the August 19 violence in Shillong. Dhar assured the operators that their grievances would be raised with the Assam authorities and said a joint meeting of the Transport Commissioners of Assam and Meghalaya, along w...

The Assam government on Sunday held a meeting with several drivers’ associations to discuss the ongoing tension along the Assam-Meghalaya border following the violence during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) rally in Shillong on August 19 and the subsequent protests by Assam-based drivers. The meeting was held at the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) office at Khanapara and was attended by Assam Minister Atul Bora, IGP Partha Sarothi Mahanta and representatives of various drivers’ organisations. The meeting came a day after a high-level meeting between the Assam and Meghalaya governments in Guwahati, where both sides discussed measures to ease the tension and restore normal movement between the two states. Addressing reporters after Sunday’s meeting, Minister Atul Bora sai...