Meghalaya

A planned cow protection rally in Shillong, set for October 2, has sparked widespread opposition, with local groups pushing back against what they perceive as cultural imposition. The rally, titled "Gau Dhwaj," aims to declare the cow as the "Mother of the Nation" through a flag-raising ceremony led by Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarandah. Organisers describe the event as part of a nationwide campaign to elevate the cow's status and seek constitutional changes for its protection, citing its spiritual importance in Hinduism. However, the initiative has faced strong criticism from local groups, including the Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR). TUR leader Angela Rangad condemned the rally, calling it a "Hindu majoritarian communal attack" on Meghalaya’s secular and pluralistic culture. Rangad highl...

In a two-month drive against the use of tinted glasses, the Meghalaya government has fined 1,788 vehicles, collecting Rs 13.35 lakh in penalties by the first week of September. The crackdown, initiated in July, was conducted in line with Supreme Court directives. Speaking to reporters, East Khasi Hills district police chief Sylvester Nongtnger said the Shillong Traffic Police (STP) has been conducting regular checks to remove black films from vehicles. Of the 1,788 vehicles caught violating the rule, 30 were government vehicles. As per the Supreme Court's ruling, black films with any percentage of Visual Light Transmission (VLT) are prohibited on vehicle windscreens and side glasses. The STP has assured that the campaign will continue, urging vehicle owners to comply with the law. N...

On September 2, Meghalaya hosted a pivotal tourism summit aimed at enhancing travel and tourism across the Northeast and Eastern states of India. The conference, chaired by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, brought together tourism ministers and representatives from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The summit, the third in a series of regional consultations, focused on collaborative efforts to develop world-class tourism destinations and improve the overall travel experience. Minister Shekhawat highlighted ambitious plans under the Swadesh Darshan scheme and discussed the revamped Swadesh Darshan 2.0, which emphasizes sustainable tourism across 57 destinations. He also noted the success of the PRASAD scheme in developing pilgrimage sites, with 46 projects...

Meghalaya has emerged as the state with the fourth highest Outstanding Liabilities to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio in India, according to the latest audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. Among the Northeastern and Himalayan states, Meghalaya ranks third, signaling a growing debt burden. The CAG report highlights the mounting financial liabilities on the state's Consolidated Fund, which include market loans, borrowings from financial institutions, and advances from the Government of India (GoI). Public debt for the year 2022-23 stood at a staggering ₹14,637.12 crore, comprising ₹11,285.50 crore in market loans, ₹1,349.04 crore in institutional loans, and ₹2,002.58 crore from the GoI. The report points out a s...

In a recent Assembly session on August 29, Mukul Sangma, the newly-appointed Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya, called for the expedited implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) of 2016. Sangma underscored the urgency of addressing amendments related to facilitation centres, which had previously faced objections from the Meghalaya High Court. Sangma highlighted that while the MRSSA has passed judicial scrutiny, it requires fine-tuning to ensure effective implementation. He stressed the importance of demonstrating commitment to civil society by moving forward with the Act. The MRSSA, aimed at empowering local traditional bodies and addressing concerns over illegal immigration, has faced delays due to proposed amendments and constitutional procedures....