Meghalaya

In a significant move to bridge the cultural gap between the Northeast and the national capital, the Government of Meghalaya is set to host a two-day "Delhi Prelude" to the Shillong Literary Festival. The event will take place on May 8 and 9 at the historic Bikaner House, serving as a high-profile curtain-raiser for the main festival scheduled to be held in Meghalaya later this year. Launched in 2021, the Shillong Literary Festival has rapidly become a premier cultural gathering in the region. By bringing a dedicated edition to New Delhi, organizers aim to amplify the national reach of Northeast voices while promoting tourism through the lenses of literature, arts, and cinema. The two-day program is designed to be a vibrant tapestry of storytelling, focusing on identity, ecology, indig...

In a continued push towards strengthening the State's tourism sector and recognise grassroots contributors, the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya today hosted a grand event to celebrate the empowerment of 'Tourism Champions' at the Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam. A key highlight of the event was the expansive rollout of Government support for the local tourism ecosystem. Under the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Homestay Mission, which targets the creation of 3,000 new homestays and over 15,000 jobs by 2028, sanction letters were distributed to the initial cohort out of approved applications. Furthermore, the Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme has announced up to 3.40 crore in funding for 58 new beneficiaries, providing tiered grants ranging from 25 lakh to 20 lakh based...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday stressed that tourism in Meghalaya can thrive only through coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, while addressing the “Empowerment of Tourism Champions of Meghalaya” event at Orchid Lake, Umiam. Organised by the state Tourism Department, the programme brought together entrepreneurs, artisans, students, community leaders, and beneficiaries, showcasing initiatives in community-based tourism, infrastructure, skill development, and livelihood generation. Sangma said tourism cannot succeed through isolated efforts, adding that Meghalaya is steadily building a strong tourism ecosystem. He emphasised the need to make the state both visible and attractive to travellers, supported by quality infrastructure, connectivity, safety, and visitor expe...

In a significant administrative overhaul, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal has been appointed the new DC of East Khasi Hills, replacing incumbent Rosetta Mary Kurbah, who has been transferred as Commissioner and Secretary, Home (Police) and Tourism. A notification issued on Tuesday outlined sweeping changes across the bureaucracy. Harish Chandra Chaudhary has been relieved as Additional Chief Secretary, Fisheries. Sampath Kumar now takes additional charge as Principal Resident Commissioner at Meghalaya House, New Delhi, while being relieved from his prior role as Resident Commissioner. M.R. Synrem will manage Secretariat Administration, Health & Family Welfare, and also serve as Additional Development Commissioner in New Delhi. Sanjay Goyal is the new Resident Commi...

The State Cabinet has approved amendments to excise and distillery rules to raise the special duty on liquor imported from outside the state. “The state cabinet has approved the amendment of Rule 375 of the Assam Excise Rules, 1945 as adopted by Meghalaya for levy of special duty on bottles of origin, and amendment of Rule 41(a) of the Assam Distillery Rules, 1945 as adopted and amended by Meghalaya,” Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla told reporters after the cabinet meeting. The revision increases the import duty on alcohol brought into the state from Rs 25 to Rs 30 per bulk litre. “This is the revision of the import of alcohol from outside the state. Usually it was Rs 25 per bulk litre and now we have increased it to Rs 30 per bulk litre,” he said. On r...

The Rongara-Siju MLA and former Cabinet Minister Rakkam A Sangma has welcomed the issuance of the tender for the long-awaited Chokpot–Siju–Karukol road project in Garo Hills, estimated at around Rs 130 crore, calling it a major boost to connectivity and development in the region. In a video statement on Tuesday, Sangma described the project as a “historic step” under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. “This vital investment will greatly benefit our people by improving access to essential services while also unlocking the immense tourism potential of areas like Wari Chora, thereby creating new livelihood opportunities and giving a strong boost to the local economy,” he said. Lauding the Conrad Sangma-led government and the concerned departments for taking up the lon...

In a significant development, the State Government and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Northeastern Region are planning to expand the reach of the National Cadet Corps across the state, with particular focus on schools and colleges located in remote and rural areas. The proposal was highlighted during the NCC North Region Annual Awards held at the Rhino Eastern Auditorium on Tuesday. At present, the NCC's presence in Meghalaya remains largely concentrated in educational institutions in urban centers. Both the state government and the NCC believe that extending the organization's footprint to rural areas would create broader opportunities for young people by promoting leadership, discipline, community service and national integration. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmi...

The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) Khliehriat Circle has today filed a strong formal objection letter with the Deputy Commissioner & Principal Census Officer, East Jaiñtia Hills District, demanding the "immediate halt to the deployment of government school teachers" for Census 2027 House Listing Operations — a practice the organization has condemned as a "direct constitutional violation" against the tribal children of the district. The Council led by Shri. Diamon Bareh Working President of the Khliehriat Circle and Shri. Symboh Baiar Sumer General Secretary Khliehriat Circle along with members, while addressing the issue shri Diamon Bareh stated that: The Violation: Law is Being Ignored- Section 27 of the "Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009", while perm...

Four organizations representing Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Meghalaya have joined forces to form the Meghalaya Disability People Organization (MDPO). This unified state-level body was established to amplify the voices of the disabled community and address what they describe as a systemic failure by the state government to uphold the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016 and the Constitution of India. MDPO President Jitendra Dkhar highlighted a disturbing trend where PwD categories are reportedly "disappearing" from recruitment processes handled by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees. Dkhar emphasized that this is not a technical oversight but a direct erasure of the legal status of disabled individuals. The organization...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the BJP’s electoral performance in Assam and West Bengal, calling it a “landslide victory” and a reflection of public trust. In a series of posts on X, Sangma first extended greetings to the Prime Minister. "Congratulations to Hon’ble PM, @narendramodi ji on his party’s landslide victory in Assam and West Bengal,” he wrote. “This resounding mandate reflects the people’s trust in his visionary leadership and commitment to development, progress, and good governance.” He also congratulated Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “Congratulations to Hon’ble Home Minister, Sh. @AmitShah ji and his party for securing the people’s strong endors...