Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government’s purported plan to dismiss Justice (retired) BP Katakey, the head of the one-man committee looking into illegal coal mining and transportation in the state, has been vehemently opposed by the Voice of the People Party (VPP). The party called on the citizens to rise against what it describes as a “nefarious attempt” to undermine justice. “It is quite offensive that the state government is attempting to remove Justice Katakey. This reveals once more the real nature of the MDA Government, which appears to be hostile to openness,” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh stated on Sunday, adding that “anyone who dares to hold the NPP-led MDA Government accountable appears to face its wrath”. According to reports, the state government is seeking legal advice on submitti...

The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted a vehicle carrying a large quantity of sugar near the India-Bangladesh border in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, on Sunday, suspecting it was meant for smuggling. The operation was conducted by 144 Battalion BSF, which apprehended an Indian national attempting to transport the sugar illegally across the border. However, authorities have yet to disclose the exact quantity of the seized consignment or the identity of the suspect. Sugar smuggling remains a persistent issue along the India-Bangladesh border due to price differences between the two countries. Security forces have increased patrols and surveillance in known smuggling corridors to prevent illegal trade.

The state BJP has indirectly accused Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma of misleading the public over the delayed disbursement of scholarships. The party said that while the hold-up stems from the state’s failure to fulfil its obligations, the blame is being unfairly shifted onto the Centre. According to the BJP, the Chief Minister’s attempt to pass the buck to the central government is nothing more than a smokescreen to hide the state’s inefficiency — particularly its repeated failure to submit the mandatory 10% contribution and the finalised list of beneficiaries, without which the Centre cannot release the remaining funds directly to students’ accounts. Earlier, Sangma blamed New Delhi, claiming the delay was due to the Centre’s failure to release funds on time. But the BJP isn’t buy...

Meghalaya is among the states with the shortest working hours in India, reveals a recent report by Shamika Ravi, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). The study, titled “Time Spent on Employment-Related Activities in India: A Note”, highlights significant differences in working hours across the country, with Meghalaya standing out for its notably shorter workdays. The national average time spent on paid economic activities is about 422 minutes per day, roughly seven hours, in Meghalaya. In urban areas, individuals in Meghalaya work an average of 375 minutes per day, approximately 6.25 hours, placing the state among the states with the least time spent on economic activities in urban India. The trend of shorter working hours is common across the North...

South West Garo Hills in Meghalaya marked International Women's Day with a special programme aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The event, held at the Multi-Facility Centre in Ampati, brought together government officials, healthcare workers, and community leaders under the theme "Accelerate Action – Moving Towards Gender Equality." Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak, IAS, who served as the Chief Guest, emphasized both progress and ongoing challenges for women in Meghalaya. While highlighting the state's strong female workforce participation and literacy rates, she pointed out that economic struggles persist even for women in traditional leadership roles. "Even female nokmas who hold land rights often struggle financially," Nayak remarked, stressing the need for ec...

Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Basaiawmoit announced on Friday that the VPP intends to expand its reach beyond the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and develop a presence in the Garo Hills as part of its long-term political strategy. He stated that the VPP cannot spread throughout the entire state at one go since they have entered politics without relying much on financial influence. “However, we are slowly gaining ground in the Garo Hills and are pleased with the favourable reaction from the locals,” Basaiawmoit said. He discussed the VPP’s goal of becoming a political force spanning the length and breadth of Meghalaya. “We are not a party restricted to a specific area or neighbourhood. We will put in a lot of effort to make sure that the VPP is present throughout the entire stat...

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the administration to identify, remove and prevent new encroachments of street space in Shillong by illegal street vendors and take legal steps against them. Further, the court directed the administration to continue to penalise errant vehicle drivers with fine for disobedience to traffic rules and ensure that there is no reduction of available road space. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, issued the directives on Friday while hearing a PIL. “…the scope of the public interest litigation (PIL) has continuously widened and now, it involves identifying street vending areas, relocating areas permitted to be used for street vending, regulation of traffic in general, allocating and reloc...