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March 2018 issue

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) complex for North Eastern Hill Region in collaboration with the Cotton Research and Development Association (CRDA) Hisar and Indian Association of Hill Farming (IAHF) organized a four day ‘International Congress’ seminar from 20th to 23rd February 2018 on “Cotton and Other Fibre Crops” at the ICAR Research complex for NEH region, Umiam. The four days event witnessed various technical sessions where 250 Scientists, Academicians, Researchers, Students etc. from various part of the country including few from abroad attended the event to deliberate on various issues related to sustainable development of fibre crops sector in India. Cotton is one of the most ancient and very important commercial crops of global importance with significant role in Indian agriculture. The congress aims to provide a common platform to agricultural scientist, extension functionaries and policy makers.

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PRIORITIES IN BUDGET

The  maiden  budget  of   the  Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, placed  in  the  House  by  Chief   Minister  Conrad  K.  Sangma,  also  being  Finance  Minister,   is  a  stunning  deficit  of  rupees, 1150  crores  which is  however  tax  free,  without  placing  further  financial  burden  on  the  people,  yet  being  a  burden  on  the  state  exchequer.  There  are  avenues  that  the  deficit  can  be  gradually  reduced with improvement  of  tax  collection  and  implementation  of  austerity  measures  in  the  day  to  day administration, also  there  is  need for approaching the  15th Finance Commission  to help improve  the  socio-economic  and  administrative  set  up.   Aid  for  central  schemes  to  the  ratio  of  90: 10,  would  have  to  be  fought and  also  for  not  pulling  back  of  development  funds.  This  all  depends  on  the  present Government  in showing  its  sincerity  in  the  implementation  of  schemes  and  projects that can be beneficial  to  the  people, especially in community and  rural  development, which  is  the  highest  ear  marked  in  the  budget, amounting to  rupees 1457.94 Crore.      
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NOT THE FIRST TIME

Speeches  made  in   the  regional  language  of  Khasi  in  the  legislative  assembly is  not  the  first  time,  when  Ampareen  Lyngdoh  of  the  Congress from  Laitumkhrah  and  Adelbert  Nongrum of the Khun Hynniewtrep NationalAwakening Movement (KHNAM) from  Mawkhar  North  Shillong,  spoke  in  Khasi,  which  is  an  Associated  official  language  in  Meghalaya besides Garo language. It was in  the year  1978, that Dominic Roblin Nongkynrih, the legislator,  from  Nongkrem used  Khasi  in  his deliberation  in  the  Assembly, when  the  Speaker was Winstone Syiemiong. The  present  Speaker Don  Kupar  Roy had  however  asked  for  copies  of   translations  in  English  for  the  convenience  of   non-Khasi  members. This time  Saleng A. Sangma  of  the  Nationalist  Congress  Party (NCP), spoke in  Garo,  Ampareen  had  asked for amendment of  Rule  28  of the  Rules  of  Conduct in Business  of  the  Assembly, which  states  that  it  should  be  conducted  in  English. 

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ON THE DOT 

Conrad K. Sangma,  the  new  Chief  Minister,  does  not  believe  in  excuses  and  being  late.  Since  day-one  he  assumed offic,e  he  is  on  the  dot  reaching his  office  room  in  the  Secretariat  at   10.a.m.  This has never happened since the state of Meghalaya was created.  The  office  workers can  no  longer  be  casual  in  coming  to  office,  more  than  one  hour  late,  take  their  time  in  chit-  chatting,  start  knitting  or  calling  for  an  early  drink  of  tea.  The  Chief  Minister  himself  has  set  about  a  work  culture  and  this  is  said  to  be  the fast  catching  up  among  the  office  staff.  The  system  of  blowing  the  siren  to  start  and  stop  work  has  been  done  away.  Discipline  in  the  working  of  the  Government  has  started  from  the  tables  of  the  staff,  which  should  percolate  to   the  other  departments  not  only  in  capital  Shillong  but  throughout  the  state.  

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SMOOTH SAILING

It was smooth sailing for Timothy D. Shira, who was elected Deputy Speaker  of  the  Meghalaya  Legislative Assembly  securing  36  votes  against  Congress  opposition, David Nongrum,  securing  20  votes.  Shira  is  one  who  is  known  to  not  to  give  in  for  defeat.  Salseng C. Marak,  former  Chief  Minister  was  always  his  main  adversary,  but  Shira  did  not  give  up,  Shira  secured  his  first  win  in  2003  and  again  in 2008. Again he failed but became successful in 2018.  What  he  said  he  was  vanquished  many  times  but  never  gave  up  hope.  Shira  at  the  age  of  68 is  mainly  a  farmer  and  he  still  cultivate,  sharing  his  crops  as  gift  to  fellow  legislators, like  rice,  pumpkins  and  other  vegetables.

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