SHILLONG: As many as 257 people, 14 of them confirmed, have died of suspected meningococcal meningitis in the State since last year amid government efforts to contain the killer disease.

"In 2008, 130 people (ten confirmed) died of the disease. A total of 127 people (four confirmed) died of the disease till June this year. However, over 2000 meningitis cases have been reported in the State so far," Deputy Chief Minister (Health) Dr Mukul Sangma said in reply to a question raised by NCP legislator James K Sangma in the Assembly on Friday.

Dr Sangma told the House that the Health Department had carried out free mass vaccination against meningitis in East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and some parts of West Khasi Hills. "Free mass vaccination is going on in other parts of West Khasi Hills district. Vaccination of people against the disease in others areas of the State would be

conducted only when cases of meningitis are reported," he said.

Dr Sangma, however, said the government had not fixed any target date for completion of the mass vaccination programme.

The Health Minister said curative measures, including detection and treatment of patients, were being taken in all government-run hospitals in the State.

"The situation is under control and preventive measures are being taken. Around 10 lakh doses of anti-meningitis vaccine, received from the World Health Organisation (WHO), have been distributed through the free vaccination campaign," Dr Sangma said.

The State received the first consignment 3.5 lakh doses of anti-meningitis vaccine, worth Rs 69.56 paise per dose, from the Centre in May this year. Response teams have been constituted to identify places where the vaccination campaign would be held in due course, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Dr Sangma also said in cases where treatment of meningitis at the peripheral centres was not feasible, antibiotic medicines were provided for early treatment before referring the suspected cases to hospitals.

Other steps taken by the State Government to combat the spread of the disease include awareness campaign through both print and electronic media, radio and television talks, live phone-in programme, distribution of leaflets, poster campaigns and health awareness programmes in schools and villages.

Budget session concludes: The eleven-day budget session of the Assembly which started on June 129 concluded on Friday with Speaker Charles Pyngrope adjourning the House sine die.

On the final day of the session, a Bill for setting up of CMJ University was also passed. Earlier, two other Bills -- Meghalaya Appropriation Bill (No II), 2009 and Industrial Disputes (Meghalaya Amendment) Bill 2009 -- were passed by the House.

Shillong: Alerted by the spread of swine flu in the country, Meghalaya government has set up a screening post at the international land crossing along the Bangladesh border at Dawki to check travellers.

"A screening post has been set up at the international land crossing at Dawki in Jaintia Hills district where international travellers were being screened," Health Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said here on Friday.

All the district medical and health officers and superintendents of government and private hospitals have been alerted, he said.

"All concerned have been asked to maintain close vigil and take appropriate action in the event of any case of influenza like illness is reported. A control room has been set up to receive and disseminate relevant information and monitor the situation," Dr Sangma said.

There has been no suspected case of swine flu in the State so far. (PTI)

SHILLONG: B Giri, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Shillong, has been appointed member of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Shillong for areas under East Khasi Hills district.

SHILLONG: BJP legislator AL Hek has dismissed the speculation that his decision to join Congress would amount to violation of the provisions of the anti-defection law.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr Hek categorically said if he joined Congress, the anti-defection law would not apply to him. "Though BJP is a national party, I'm the lone BJP member of the State Assembly. So there is no harm in my joining Congress," he said.

Mr Hek pointed out that the anti-defection law had not applied to the BJP MLAs who recently joined NPF in Nagaland and also the BJP legislators who switched allegiance to Congress in Arunachal Pradesh in 2004.

Mr Hek, who has won the Assembly election on BJP ticket for three consecutive terms from Pynthorumkhrah constituency since 1998, made it clear that people of his constituency in a meeting on June 30 had strongly supported his decision to join the MUA Government and Congress.

Interestingly, contradicting his recent statement that BJP was communal, he said, "I don't have differences with BJP leadership on the issue of Hindutva."

Mr Hek appreciated Congress president Sonia Gandhi's approval for his entry into her party, adding he would officially join Congress soon. He said BJP leader incharge of the North-East Chandra Shekhar and State BJP president HS Syiemlieh had approached him to discuss the matter. "I did discuss the issue with them, but I said I'll stick to my decision to join Congress," Mr Hek added.

SHILLONG: Shillong commuters will soon have the luxury to use skywalks in congested areas, including schools, offices, hospitals, shopping malls and other strategic locations.

In a bid to decongest the city, the Urban Affairs Department is planning to build around four skywalks, similar to the ones constructed in Mumbai, in the busy areas of Shillong.

The skywalks will enable the commuters to reach their schools, offices, market places, taxi stands, bus stops, etc without getting into an auto-rickshaw, a taxi or a two-wheeler.

Official sources on Friday said the idea behind these skywalks was to decongest the streets in Shillong, which are choked by taxis, two-wheelers and cars.

"The skywalks will also be aimed at providing some relief to the hapless road users, especially children and disabled people who suffer due to lack of footpaths and roads choked by traffic," official sources said.

In strategic locations, there would be entry and exit points while some special entry and exit points would be created for the disabled people to enable them to use the skywalks.

"There would be provision for small kiosks at intersection junctions where children and elderly people can enjoy snacks, coffee and soft drinks," the sources said.

According to official sources, the first skywalk starting from Fire Brigade will move towards Laitumkhrah-Don Bosco Square, come down towards Jacob Ladder road, Main Secretariat and then turn towards Police Bazaar. It will move towards Motphran and finally Kyrbom, Mawprem.

The second skywalk will start from Laban, move towards Shillong Civil Hospital and then lead to Barik.

The third skywalk will start from Barik and move towards Keating Road and Police Bazaar.

The fourth skywalk will start from Police Bazaar and move towards Polo Bazaar.

Hindus Prefav Limited (HPL) has been entrusted with the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Meanwhile, representatives of HPL made a power point presentation about the skywalks to Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Friday.

Talking to The Shillong Times after the power point presentation, Mr Lyngdoh said HPL would conduct a survey of all the sites before preparing the DPR. The minister said he had raised some important queries during the power point presentation.

"After completion of the survey, I would hold another meeting with HPL representatives before they finally prepare the DPR," Mr Lyngdoh said.

He also said the funds for the project would be sought either from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) or from the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

"I strongly feel that the skywalks would not only help the commuters but also add to the beauty of Shillong city," the Urban Affairs Minister said.

The implementing agency for the proposed project will be Meghalaya Urban Development Agency (MUDA).

In Nongstoin, the Wah Nanbah had swollen to such an extent that many low lying areas in the town have been inundated on Friday. Many houses lying close to the river were also submerged.

According to villagers living near Kynshi river, flood waters of such magnitude has not been seen since 1984 when a massive flash flood hit the low lying areas along the river's course.

JOWAI: While many educated unemployed youth are excited about furnishing details of their application forms for various posts advertised by the District Selection Commission (DSC), Jaintia Hills District, ahead of July 13 deadline, some youth who are aware of direct recruitments on ad hoc basis being practiced in various departments, have expressed doubt over fair conduct of the interviews.

Direct recruitment of staff on ad-hoc basis by the district and subordinate officers without the recommendation of the District Selection Committee (DSC) in various government departments have been continuing in the district.

According to the Government rule, ad-hoc appointments must be discontinued forthwith as such practices is highly irregular.

It may be also noted that as per Government rule, all heads of the district, sub-divisional and subordinate offices should take prompt action to advertise the posts so that the District Selection Committee can make their recommendation and also to avoid taking any recourse to any ad-hoc appointments.

The DSC in Jaintia Hills has recently advertised to fill up various vacancies where thousands of unemployed youth in the district have spent both time and money to complete all formalities to apply for vacancies as per the advertisement.

Talking to some of the media persons here, unemployed youth and concerned citizens said, "though the DSC has made arrangements to invite applications from unemployed youth of the district, but we are doubtful that the DSC will conduct fair interview as most of the vacancies have been already appointed on ad-hoc basis," the youth lamented.

Interestingly, a former non-official member of the DSC, Jaintia Hills, representing the NCP Nartiang unit as its president - Mr Pyrkhat Pyrphet - has been appointed as Sectional Assistant at the office of the Executive Engineer, PWD (Rd) North Jowai Division on ad hoc basis.

The appointment order, signed by the Executive Engineer, TG Nengnong, indicates that the former DSC member has joined as Sectional Assistant on March 3 last, whereas he had tendered his resignation as the DSC non-official member on March 2 last only, according to records available with the DSC.

It may be noted that the DSC has advertised for three posts of Sectional Assistants on June 10. But, with the appointment of Mr Perphet, there are only two posts of Sectional Assistants left to be filled for now.

Sources also informed that one B Shylla, working as the Lower Division Assistant in the Jowai North Division, PWD (Rd), Jowai has been allowed to officiate temporarily against the vacant post of Junior Division Accountant in addition to her duties as the JDA since April 2007. Sources also informed that Ms Shylla has officiated as the JDA a year before the office order was issued by the Director of Account and Treasuries.

"The concerned department should appoint a fresh candidate through the MPSC for the post of JDA as the post has remained vacant for nearly three years. This is depriving the rights of all the unemployed youth in the district, another youngster opined.

More interestingly, three posts of LDA-cum-typist have been published through various newspapers and hundreds have applied against the vacancies. But, recently the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chairman of the DSC, informed that the posts stand cancelled.

The DC simply clarified that cancellation of the advertised posts have been given as per the Government instruction.

Shillong: Chief Minister DD Lapang, who is in-charge of Home, has suggested for setting up of residential schools and hostels specifically for children of police personnel in the lower ranks.

"We cannot deny the fact that the lower ranks personnel could not give the required parental guidance to their children since maximum of their time are spent in their place of posting in far flung areas," Mr Lapang said while addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new administrative building of Police Reserve here on Friday.

He said that with a meager salary the lower ranks personnel are also facing various constraints to attend to the various needs of the their families, adding that even as it is a difficult task to attend to all their needs, the Government can at least provide their children good education.

The Chief Minister also stressed that the proposed residential school is not totally for children of the lower rank police personnel although the first preference would be given to them.

Further, Mr Lapang said the State Government is committed to provide better health facilities for police personnel residing at the quarters in the Police Reserve, while he also assured that he would take up with the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who is in-charge of Health, to ensure that there are proper stock of medicines and regular doctors at the health centre at Police Reserve.

In an encouraging note, the Chief Minister said the police personnel are always in the frontline and they are bound to receive severe criticism despite giving out their best while performing their duties. "Despite all the odds, the police personnel should always concentrate on their job as a sign of maturity and professionalism," Mr Lapang remarks.

Stating that the MUA Government is committed to implement the modernization schemes for the best interest of the Police Department, Lapang said he would be visiting Delhi in the coming days to seek additional funds from the Centre in this connection.

He also stated that the State Government commitment to implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission recommendations at the earliest.

In a separate case, one Enboklin Tongwah (19) of Mawten village was accusing of raping a 13-year-old girl from Rangthong village. According to an FIR, Tongwah abducted the girl on June 26 in a private car on way to Jakrem. Police are searching for the car.

On their promotion, Morrister Kharbuli is posted as Assistant Commandant, 5th MLP Battalion, Samanda in East Garo Hiills, Rajendra Nath Borah is posted as Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID), Meghalaya, Saul Son Roy Kharmon as Assistant Commandant, 5th MLP Battalion, Samanda in East Oaro Hills, Shalwist Mallaia as Assistant Commandant 1st MLP Battalion, Mawiong, Atul Baruah as Assistant Commandant, 4th MLP Battalion, Sohpian in West Khasi Hills, Lansius Lakiang as Assistant Commandant, 15t MLP Battalion, Mawiong.

Among others were Rymphang Pde who was promoted to the rank of Sub- Divisional Police Officer, Sohra.

Shillong: The BJP has decided to for an extensive membership drive upto the grassroots level to strengthen its organisation base in the State from July 4 onwards.

In a statement issued here, State BJP secretary in-charge organisation Dipayan Chakraborty said the six years term of BJP primary membership has ended last year, however, due to Parliamentary elections, the party decided to start the renewal and new membership this year. The membership term is from 2009 to 2014.

He stated that that State President election will be held sometime in November after completion of the membership in the Local and Block organizational elections.

Urging all members to renew their membership Mr Chakraborty informed that special attention will be kept in mind for enrolling more youths and women in the respective Blocks to rejuvenate the party while enrolling new members, adding that party has already amended its constitution by giving 33% reservation for women in its organization.

BJP Meghalaya Unit has condoled the death of former MLA and vice president of Assam BJP unit Bimalangshu Roy. At the condolence meeting attended by party workers, the meeting recalled the contribution of Mr Roy towards the party and society. Two minutes silent was observed in respect of the departed soul.

Brojen L Ryntathiang, a resident of Laimer Shiteng and father of Lodian Kharkongor, passed away on July 3. His funeral will be held on July 5 at his residential compound at Laimer at 2 pm.

Lt Gen (Retd) PC Joshi breathed his last on July 2 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He was commissioned and had served in 1/8 Gorkha Rifles. He was the first Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.

Make This Your HomePage! |About Us |Contact Us |Photo Gallery | Archive'05