KSU and NESO burn effigies to protest against Citizenship Bill
To protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, the Khasi Student Union (KSU) North East Student Organisation (NESO) burned effigies in front of the Kiang Nongbah statue in Shillong.
KSU President, Lambokstarwell Marngar said that though the state government has opposed the Bill, it is yet to take any resolution to the Central government to register its opposition to the Bill.” Meanwhile NESO President, Samuel Jyrwa said that the state demography and its peoples (Khasi’s, Garo’s and Jaintia’s) will be under threat if the Bill is passed. The leaders of two organisations have urged the state government to put up a strong opposition to the Central Government.
Is there any trace of an omen? A lightening strike had reduced to ashes of the bachelors dormitory, owned by former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at Gambegre in the Garo Hills. The “Nok-Achik” is a dormitory of bachelors, who among themselves retreat in the evenings in sessions of discussions on social affairs and also youth activities aimed at the betterment of society at large. The youths prepare themselves to tackle the difficulties in the day to day life and plan for the betterment of the future.Why therefore such an institution was burnt to ashes by the forces of nature? Though of course the weather conditions in Garo Hills, saw heavy rains and thunder storms, specially affecting the Ampati constituency. A streak of lightening accompanied by a roar of thunder, struck the traditional Non--Achik dormitory. There can be many interpretations or can be explained as a freak of nature, yet it can also be an unseen prediction of the course of events in the political scene in Garo Hills.
AmpatiawaitsthecrucialandprestigiousfinalcontesttothesixtymemberLegislativeAssemblyofMeghalaya.ThestrongholdoftheCongressandformerChiefMinisterMukulSangma,whohadnowchosenhis27yearold daughterMiani D. Shira to hold the fort.ThoughherfatherandmotherDikancchiShiraareseasonedpoliticians,Mianiiscomingoutinthefieldforthefirsttime.SheispitchedagainstClementMominoftheNationalPeople’sParty(NPP),whoobviouslyhastheadvantageoftherulingMeghalayaDemocraticAlliance.However,inbetweencomesinSubankarKoch,whowasdenieda BJPticket,yetdeterminedtogoaheadasanIndependent.Therefore,theKochfactorcouldupseteithersideinthematterofthevotingpattern,althoughtheBJPiscomingalloutrightfromthenationalandstateleaders,whoarethickinthecampaign. The total voting strength of Ampati is thirty thousand. SubankarKochhasasliceoftenthousandvotes,specially fromtheHajongandKochandalsoGaroandMuslim communities,whichcantipthescalesinfavourofClementorMiani.
The Khasi Jiantia Welfare Association (KJWA) in collaboration with the Food civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Government of Meghalaya has set up State Consumer Helpline for the State of Meghalaya.
The Consumer Awareness Scheme was approved by the Economic Affairs on 24th January 2008 to empower consumers by educating them of their rights and responsibilities. The Department of Consumer Affairs (GoI) has a consumer awareness and protection programme under the banner of ‘Jago Grahak Jago’.
The first step taken by KJWA is to make public aware about the existence of this helpline. The Association has travelled to different Schools, Colleges and remote areas of the state to preach people about this help line number.
With this toll free help line 1800-345-3678 consumers will have the assistance to solve the matters themselves with just a phone call. The State Consumer Helpline is an initiative by KJWA by signing MoU with the State Government. The objective of this consumer helpline is to provide clear and practical advice of various issues relating to consumers rights, to improve the quality and availability of information.
Consumers having complaint can register themselves with any of the three agencies depending on their losses, any consumers faces i.e. less than 20 lakh to the District Forum, 20 lakhs and 1 crore to the State Commission and if more than 1 crore the consumer can complaint to the National Commission.
HYC wants colleges to give first preference to local Youths
The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) delegation lead by Roy Kupar Synrem met the principals and heads of the different colleges which include St Anthony’s College, St Edmund’s College, Shillong College, St Mary’s College and others to demand that colleges should give first preference to local students for admission in their respective institutions.
Synrem said that it is important for these colleges or institution to give first preference to the youth of the state so to inspire them to go for higher studies and not spending so much money to get admission outside the state. He added that the heads of the different institutions have also assured to look into the matter.