Meghalaya

The National People’s Party (NPP) has emerged as the front-runner in the Gambegre by-election following the completion of the first round of vote counting. Dr. Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, the NPP candidate, is leading with a margin of over 1,000 votes, securing 3,392 votes so far. Trailing closely in second place is Sadhiarani Sangma of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), with 2,291 votes, while Congress candidate Jingjang M Marak follows in third with 2,279 votes. Independent contender Jerry A Sangma holds the fourth position with 264 votes, and Bernard N Marak from the BJP has received 151 votes. Sengkrabirth M Marak is currently at the bottom with just 37 votes, with 19 votes cast for NOTA (None of the Above). The counting process is being carried out across 14 tables and will ...

Women from West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, are being empowered through sustainable mushroom farming to address the region's escalating human-elephant conflict. A biodiversity conservation organization, Aaranyak, in collaboration with the British Asian Trust, recently conducted a capacity-building workshop to promote coexistence between humans and elephants. The training, held at Bordubi LP School in Tikrikla Block, saw the participation of 25 women impacted by the conflict. Expert Aparna Rabha provided practical insights into oyster mushroom cultivation, highlighting its economic benefits and eco-friendly nature. Participants explored various mushroom species and learned cultivation techniques to boost their livelihoods. The initiative, supported by the Darwin Initiative, aims to mitigate ...

During a historic health campaign to change hitherto resistant populations in Garo Hills, a small community of 203 people attained 72% health screening coverage. The Village Health Council meeting and free health screening, which took place at the Indik Nokat Baptist Church premises under Rerapara Block, united several government agencies in a concerted attempt to enhance access to healthcare in rural areas. For prenatal treatment and hospital admissions to be effective, family support is essential," she stated. To keep the momentum going, Armand Momin, the development officer for Rerapara Block, advocated for frequent VHC meetings. The health team held awareness campaigns about leprosy, TB, malaria control, and the advantages of vaccination. Education experts emphasized that educa...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in New Shillong Township on November 20, heralding a new era of technologically driven urban governance. Located in Umsawli, the state-of-the-art ICCC will function as the digital backbone for managing Shillong’s urban infrastructure, integrating disaster management, real-time surveillance, and data analytics to optimize city operations.The facility is equipped with advanced capabilities, including video analytics, intelligent traffic systems, and waste management monitoring.   A network of 96 surveillance points across Shillong will bolster security and efficiency in critical sectors such as traffic flow, water distribution, and solid waste management.“The ICCC represents our co...

On November 20, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma made a major technical advancement for urban governance by unveiling the Integrated Command and Control Center in New Shillong Township. The cutting-edge facility, located in Umsawli, will integrate real-time data analysis, disaster management, and surveillance to function as a holistic digital nerve center for city operations. The center will provide quick data analysis for well-informed decision-making and is designed to simplify information gathering and real-time monitoring. It seeks to give the government the ability to foresee crises, coordinate response activities, and improve urban operations in a variety of sectors. Advanced video analytics, intelligent traffic control, waste monitoring systems, and thorough city su...

Meghalaya’s Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has called on the state’s District Council Affairs Department to address ongoing issues related to the allocation of funds from the Union Ministry of Finance. In a statement, HITO emphasized the need for proper financial resources to support rural local governance in the state. The organization highlighted the disparity between Meghalaya’s allocation of just Rs 27 crore from the Central government’s Finance Commission grants and the significantly higher sum of over Rs 266 crore allocated to Kerala for its rural local bodies. HITO has raised concerns over this disparity, stressing that the allocation for Meghalaya's Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia — is insufficient and lacks clarity on how it ...

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Nirmalendu Saha of Meghalaya's North-Eastern Hill University said the two-member team, which was constituted by the Indian government's Ministry of Education, will soon visit the campus to look into the alleged administrative and managerial shortcomings. The Acting VC told reporters that he had a phone conversation with the Ministry of Education and that the committee will act as soon as a report was prepared. Professor Saha went on to say that after the Ministry of Education asked him to submit pertinent documents, a committee comprising senior professors, other stakeholders, and representatives from the Khasi Students' Union-NEHU unit, the NEHU Teachers' Association, and the NEHU Students' Union was established. Additionally, according to media so...

Speaking at a celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjurapu Rammohan Naidu commended Meghalaya's tribal groups for their deep reverence for the natural world and their priceless expertise in environmental preservation. Celebrated across the country, this day marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Speaking to a crowd in the state, Naidu underlined that Meghalayan tribal groups, whose tradition places a strong emphasis on environmental preservation, have a lot to teach the rest of the world. Speaking about his own visit to the revered Mawphlang Grove, which is 25 kilometers from Shillong, Naidu said it was enlightening and highlighted the area's practical and spiritual connections to nature. In reference to ...