Meghalaya

Meghalaya, one of the worst suffering states from cancer in the North East, is setting out to do something unprecedented – detect cancer before it becomes a “death sentence”. In a bold public health initiative, the state government has started Meghalaya Mission Cancer Prevention and Early Detection to take cancer screening to communities, rather than relying on patients to approach the healthcare system. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has described the Mission as “a testament to our commitment to safeguarding every citizen through early detection and preventive healthcare.” The goal is to screen over a million people free of charge, making it one of the biggest early detection programmes to be attempted in Northeast India. The sheer scale of the mission is visible in the effor...

The Meghalaya government has sought support from the Union Health Ministry and the Parliamentary Consultative Committee to strengthen infrastructure for the upcoming Shillong Medical College and Hospital, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said on Friday. The minister stated that the state has already submitted its requirements under the brownfield development plan, highlighting the need for key infrastructure including an administrative building, student hostels, and advanced laboratory facilities. These components are expected to be completed within the next year to ensure timely operationalisation of the medical college. Shylla said the government has formally requested central assistance to expedite construction work and ensure that the institution meets required standards of med...

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Community College (DDUCC) for Skill Development, Wahiajer, a constituent college of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), successfully concluded a seven-day Skill Up-Gradation Training Programme on "Welding and Metal Fabrication Techniques" from June 5 to 12, 2026. The programme was organized with the objective of equipping local youth with essential vocational skills to enhance their employability, economic independence, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The training programme was inaugurated by Dr. F. R. Sumer, Principal In-Charge, DDUCC, on June 5, 2026, at the college premises. Addressing the 26 participants representing various villages of the region, Dr. Sumer encouraged them to make the most of the intensive training through lectures, practical dem...

The Wah Umlew Protection Committee, comprising representatives from nine villages under the Nongtraw area in Ri Bhoi district, has voiced concern over the deteriorating condition of the Umlew River and called on the state government to take urgent steps to safeguard the water body. The committee alleged that ongoing earth-cutting activities linked to a road construction project being executed by Dhar Construction Company from Nongkohlew to NEIGHRIMS have led to significant pollution of the river. According to committee members, the Umlew River has been protected and maintained by local communities for decades and remains a vital resource for residents of the surrounding villages, they claimed that the recent excavation work has caused soil and debris to enter the river, affecting it...

Meghalaya’s efforts to improve maternal and child health through community-driven behavioural interventions have drawn the attention of UNICEF India, with senior officials visiting a village in Ri-Bhoi district to assess grassroots innovations aimed at boosting immunisation coverage and identifying high-risk pregnancies. Dennis Christian Larsen, Chief of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) at UNICEF India, along with officials from UNICEF’s Delhi and Assam offices, visited Umpathaw village under Umling Block on June 11 to observe how behavioural insights are being translated into action through locally designed health interventions. The visit focused on understanding how communities are helping address persistent public health challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and gaps in matern...

The Meghalaya government has launched a One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme offering major tax and penalty waivers to commercial vehicle owners, with the aim of clearing long-pending dues and boosting revenue collection. The scheme was launched in Shillong by Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. Approved by the state cabinet, the initiative allows commercial vehicle owners to settle outstanding liabilities by availing substantial concessions on taxes and penalties. Under the scheme, vehicle owners will receive an 80 per cent waiver on pending Motor Vehicle Tax, Goods and Passenger Tax dues, along with associated penalties. A 90 per cent waiver will also be granted on penalties linked to Fitness Certificates. Dhar said the settlement window covers outstandi...

A Bangladeshi national who spent several hours stranded in no-man's land along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya was handed over to his family on June 11 after authorities verified his identity, bringing an end to a tense standoff between the border forces of the two countries. The incident unfolded in the Nandirchar sector near Mahendraganj in Meghalaya's South West Garo Hills district, where personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) disagreed over the nationality and identity of the individual. Videos purportedly showing the confrontation circulated widely on social media, although their authenticity could not be independently verified. According to BSF officials, the man was identified as Sati Rajbanshi, a resident of Chalna village in ...

The Federation of Industry & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) will organise the North East India Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition (NEIINFRA Summit) 2026 on June 15 and 16 at the Lariti Performing Centre, Mawkasiang, Shillong, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors and infrastructure experts from across the country. The summit, with the Government of Meghalaya as the host state and Build India as co-organiser, was announced during a press meet held in Shillong on Wednesday. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the summit as the chief guest.Organisers said the two-day event is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure-focused gatherings in Northeast India, with participation from all eight northeaste...

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has launched a direct challenge against the ruling government in Meghalaya, declaring that it will function as the "main opposition" in the state despite having no current legislative presence in the Assembly. Speaking at the state executive committee meeting of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress, IYC Secretary and Meghalaya in-charge Samrat Keshari Jena stated that the youth wing would aggressively take up public issues, bypassing the official opposition bloc currently comprising the Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The political offensive follows the defection of four Congress legislators to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), which left the parent party with zero seats in the Assembly. To counter this, the IYC ...

The Power Minister of Meghalaya, Metbah Lyngdoh, has officially announced that the state government has issued a formal letter to terminate the contract of Sai Computer Limited from managing power services in the Mawsynram Sub Division. This decisive action follows intense and widespread protests and complaints from local residents across the entire region regarding the company’s failure to provide a reliable electricity supply. Speaking to members of the press, Minister Lyngdoh explained that the government took this step after carefully listening to the grievances of the electricity consumers, local residents, and public representatives from the three constituencies under the sub-division, which include Mawphlang, Ranikor, and Mawsynram. Various local village councils, non-gove...