Meghalaya

Chairperson Agatha Sangma of the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) convened with Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh to address child-focused matters, which included the establishment of green recreational areas and the necessity for standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guarantee the safety of children being sent outside the state. Sangma underscored the significance of providing children with secure and healthy environments for play and development, particularly in urban regions that are swiftly losing open spaces. She also pointed out the absence of adequate monitoring systems for children who are relocated to other states for educational, caregiving, or training purposes. Sangma stressed the critical need for a framework to track the movement ...

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday made some modifications in the vending hours earlier imposed on street vendors in Khyndailad area of Shillong. The high court, on July 3, hearing a plea filed by Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, had restricted vending hours from 12:30 pm to 2 pm and 7:30 pm to 9 pm. However, in its latest order on Wednesday, the Bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh allowed a slight modification, granting vendors an additional 30 minutes for setting up and 15 minutes for packing up during each vending session.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have shut down the popular bakery RB Store here for allegedly using newspapers to wrap its items like bread and cakes, in violation of norms, officials said here on Wednesday. The RB Store outlet is in Police Bazaar area in the state capital. The family-owned bakery has been functioning since 1950. In a sweeping crackdown to ensure public food safety, four other eateries were also ordered to close, including Arun Hotel, Maa Kali Hotel, and two fast food outlets. Marking a crackdown to ensure public food safety, four other eateries were also ordered to close, including Arun Hotel, Maa Kali Hotel, and two fast food outlets. Officials said the action was taken following inspections that revealed gross violations of hygiene and food ...

The Meghalaya government has announced that all commercial vehicles operating within the state will soon be required to display key driver identification details, including names, license numbers, contact information, and addresses. The decision aims to create a safer and more transparent travel environment for both locals and tourists. The directive was confirmed by Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday, following a high-level meeting held at the state Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, and attended by senior officials from the transport and tourism departments. “This is a simple but effective measure. It empowers passengers and discourages unlawful behaviour,” said Lyngdoh, underscoring the importance of visible ...

The Behdeinkhlam Festival, held in Jowai, Meghalaya, is a significant event for the Pnars, a tribal community. The festival, which translates to "driving away the plague," is a prayer for a bountiful harvest and a means to dispel diseases and malevolence. It transcends tradition and upholds the Pnars' ancient faith, Niamtre. The festival features unique dances, rituals, and a procession of a sacred wooden post, Symbud Khnong. It also promotes messages about drug avoidance and climate change.

Education in the rural regions of the Garo Hills has posed significant challenges for numerous students, as nature continues to disrupt their learning environment and assistance remains absent. Many educational institutions suffer from deteriorating infrastructure, transforming the pursuit of education into a daily ordeal. In Mangsang, three additional schools are underscored, where the adversities encountered by both students and teachers are beyond comprehension. Gimdil Government LP School exemplifies a dismal situation in Mangsang, where 50 students are confined to a single room, with one teacher responsible for instructing all six classes at once. The classroom is equipped with merely three benches, a blackboard, a cupboard, and lacks any other essential educational resources. The...

By installing solar power, the Meghalaya New & Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) is leading a significant renewable energy project that aims to enhance rural infrastructure and connectivity throughout the state. Additionally, construction has started on a few chosen locations for 29 community halls, four Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers, and eight secondary schools. Solar power systems are being installed by the organization at 63 BharatNet-1 locations in Meghalaya. The MNREDA Director stated, "Schools, ICDS centers, and community halls are all part of this initiative." In order to enhance digital connectivity and encourage the use of renewable energy in rural regions, he continued, "we want to guarantee a stable and sustainable power supply for Bhara...

In a move aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers using commercial vehicles, the Meghalaya government has decided to make it mandatory for all drivers of commercial taxis to display their full name, address, vehicle number, and driving licence details inside the vehicle. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sniawbhalang Dhar, who also holds the Transport portfolio, along with Minister Shri Paul Lyngdoh and senior officials of the department. As per the new directive, commercial drivers will also be required to keep all necessary documents related to the vehicle and their own credentials readily available for verification. The initiative comes in the wake of a recent incident where a young woman was reportedly drugged and robbed whi...

Two BSF personnel were injured in an attack by suspected cattle smugglers along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place near the Khasimara river in the early hours of July 12, they said. The BSF personnel spotted movements of 30 to 40 cattle heads along with around 20 people on the Bangladeshi side of the border, according to an FIR lodged with the Meghalaya Police.

The Captain Williamson Sangma State University (CWSSU) marked a historic milestone with the successful convening of its first Academic Council meeting at the University's main campus in Tura, West Garo Hills District on July 11. The meeting was attended in full by all members of the Academic Council and marks a foundational moment in the academic evolution of the University. This first sitting saw the formal adoption of key academic regulations, approval of undergraduate and postgraduate syllabi, and the ratification of the Boards of Studies constituted across various disciplines. In total, syllabi were approved for 15 postgraduate and 21 undergraduate disciplines, including subjects from the sciences, humanities, social sciences, commerce and regional languages. These include: Anthrop...