Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to resume from 6th to 13th August.
The autumn session of the tenth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will have six working days from 6th September to 13th September. The session was approved by Business Advisory Committee (BAC) during a meeting chaired by Assembly Deputy Speaker, Timothy D Shira on Friday. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief minister Prestone Tynsong and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma and former Speaker, Charles Pyngrope.
Speaking to the reporters Deputy Speaker Timothy Shira said that there will be six working days of which government business has been allotted for September 6, 10 and 13 while private members’ business on September 9, 11 and 12. The Speaker added that until the post of speaker is not filled hence by nature the deputy speaker will take all powers of speaker. He added that the number of days for the session was extended so to give chance to the opposition to raise their concern or demands in the house.
Meanwhile Leader of opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma said that the decision to increase the number of days for the session to discuss important issues confronting the state and the people. He added that the opposition (Congress) will raised several issues in the Assembly which includes Coal issue, Corruption in the government, Lack of development and the drugs menance in the state
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Smt. M. W Nongbri today launch the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019 in Shillong. The objective of this campaign is to conduct national ranking of all states and district of India on the bases of qualitative and quantitative sanitation. The mission also aims to assess the effectiveness of environment management and behavior change communication intervention under Swacch Baharat Mission-Gramin.
Speaking during the inaugural function Deputy Commissioner Smt. M. W Nongbri said that it is the duty of every individual to maintain cleanliness in the state and it is the duty of all officers and BDO officers to encourage people living in the remote areas and to assess them in maintaining cleanliness throughout the State. She added that the ranking is done by using information on the service level progress, Direct Observation of public places and Citizen’s Feedback.
She added that individuals will get call from members of the missions to enquire about the cleanliness of their respective villages or towns etc, therefore each BDO’s members duty will be to educate people regarding this mission.
Meghalaya CM and Education Minister met Union Minister for Human Resource Development
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui yesterday called on Union Minister for Human Resource Development Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in Delhi to seek centre’s intervention on different issues pertaining to the State.
On the Draft National Education Policy, Rymbui apprised the minister that restructuring the entire educational facilities in the State would be a difficult exercise and would put a lot of financial burden as 50 per cent of the Schools in Meghalaya were run by minority organizations.
Rymbui also urged the centre that minority institutions should be allowed to manage the school managing committees through their sponsoring bodies so as not to dilute their sacrifice and initiatives taken especially in the elementary section.
He also said that restructuring school curriculum and pedagogy in a new 5+3+3+4 design will entail additional manpower and specific subject teachers will have to be appointed for teaching from Grade 9 to 12.
Expressing concern and financial burden for introduction of classical language, foreign languages in Schools,Rymbui pointed that unless a special scheme is rolled out for recruitment of language teachers, offering such language at schools, colleges and universities would be a difficult exercise. The State government reiterated status quo be maintained regarding language policy.
Issues of stand alone teacher Institution like B.Ed and DIET was also discussed as it is very difficult for the College or DIET to integrate with other institution where The HRD Minister that the matter will be discuss.
Rymbui also raised the issue of D.El.Ed programme conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), wherein the trainees from 2013-15, 14-16 and 16-18 where yet to get their mark sheet and original certificates, even after completion of their courses.He also informed that the results for exam conducted by NIOS in May 2019, where the original certificate and marksheets of the on-line batch yet to be received by the successful candidate.
Pokhriyal assured the Chief Minister and Education Minister that the matters will be taken up and necessary interventions will be made.
On Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rymbui pointed that Ministry of HRD had committed to release central share of Rs. 253.49 cr against Rs. 523.36 cr sanctioned by PAB 2018-19, however, the actual release was Rs. 237.846 cr, with a shortfall of Rs. 15.644 cr.
He also apprised the Union Minister that for 2019-20 there was a shortfall of Rs. 145.147 cr for implementation of SSA, while the centre had committed to release Rs. 348.653 cr. instead of P.A.B 2019-20 approved allocation of Rs. 523.53 cr.
He said that due to shortfall of funds released by the Ministry, the state has been facing difficulties for implementation of SSA. The Chief Minister and Education Minister has urged centre to look into the matter.
On implementation of 9 model schools in Meghalaya, Rymbui said that funds for the centrally sponsored schools amounting to Rs. 15,03,00,00 (50 per cent of the central share) were released in 2011, however the project was discontinued in 2015 and the financial burden was given to the State. Rymbui urged the centre to reconsider the Model School Scheme for Meghalaya and ensure completion of the schools, which were initiated in the State. The Union Minister has instructed the department to examine the matter.
Rymbui also expressed problems for local aspiring students due to restricted reservation policy in institutes like North Eastern Regional Institute of Education (NERIE), English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), IIM Shillong, NEIGRIHMS, etc.
He pointed that NERIE has only 3 seats reserved for Meghalaya out of 50 seats in the B.Ed. course. He urged the centre to increase seat reservation for the State of Meghalaya in NERIE and requested to reserve quota for the state in EFLU Shillong Campus.
Pokhriyal assured the Chief Minister and Education Minister that the matters will be looked into.
Northeast Frontier Railway initiatives in Railways
The Northeast Frontier Railway is taking various initiatives aiming towards improvements in various parameters of passenger amenities inside train coaches. The initiatives are targeted at providing the passenger a better ambience apart from providing a feel good feeling while making train journey.
As part of the initiatives, interiors of coaches are being fitted with aesthetically designed fitting, paneling, and improved toilets. All these improvements are being done as per guidelines provided by the Railway Board.
As part of the initiatives, Northeast Frontier Railway has already provided dustbins in the lavatories of all AC and Non AC coaches maintained by the zone. Dustbins will also be provided near doorways in a phased manner.
Stainless steel mugs with anti-theft chain have been provided in the lavatories of all AC and Non AC coaches. It may be mentioned here that, passenger often faces problem while using lavatories due to theft of mugs.
This was done 100% of all AC coaches and Western style toilets of all Non AC coaches have also been provided with “Health Faucets” for reducing the stinking smell in lavatories.
Coach Mitra under OBHS (On Board House Keeping Service) has been provided in all the 62 pairs of mail/express trains run by this railway. This service is functional in about 975 pairs of trains of Indian Railways.
OBHS service is provided to facilitate un-scheduled cleaning of coaches by just sending a SMS during the run of train itself apart from scheduled cleaning of the coaches twice a day. Any passenger can send sms CLEAN<space><PNR no> to 58888 for availing the service of Coach Mitra while undertaking train journey.
With an aim to provide clean/washed laundry items to passengers during train journey, NFR has 3 departmental mechanised laundries in operation in different locations. They are at Dibrugarh, Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri. Mechanized washing ensure better and improved quality of cleaned linens to passengers during journey. As a result, linen related complaint from passenger reduced significantly.
It may be mentioned here that, for the assistance of the visually impaired passengers, signage superimposed with Braille scripts are being provided in all coaches. While new model coaches being received come with Braille signage fitted in it.
All these passenger friendly initiatives will definitely be able to provide a better feeling to travelling passenger while making train journey more comfortable.
Environment Committee allows JNV School to resume classes
The Assembly Committee on Environment headed by Mawphlang MLA S. K Sunn, Umroi MLA George Lyngdoh and Rambrai MLA Kimfa Marbaniang today announced that the Committee has allowed the re-opening of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) School in Mawphalng. JNV Mawphlang was closed down on 28th July 2019 after the Environment Committee found that the Sewage Treatment Plant of the school was not operating.
The Committee alleged that due to non-functioning of the sewage plant, the waste from the school is over flowing to the Mawphlang Dam which is the source of drinking water for Greater Shillong Water Supply.
After the inspection conducted by the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board it is found that the school is cautiously adhering to the guidelines laid down by the Board except for the Annual Maintenance Contract which the school lack.
Speaking after the meeting S. K Sunn said that all the blame goes to the School Authority for not maintaining the sewage treatment Plant, now due to their negligence school children’s has to suffer. He added that after several inspections the Committee has no other option other than shutting down of the school which has affect school children
The Committee has asserted that twice a month inspection will be conducted in the school and the report to be submitted to the Committee for further action.
