Meghalaya

Prohibited two-finger test for non-compliance: Meghalaya govt to SC

The Meghalaya government has informed the Supreme Court that it has prohibited the 'two-finger test' which was conducted to determine whether a survivor of rape or sexual assault was habituated to sexual intercourse. The state government told the apex court that a circular dated June 27, 2024, was issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Meghalaya prohibiting the test and disciplinary action will be taken for non-compliance. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Sanjay Karol, which referred to a top court's order passed on May 7, noted that the apex court had strongly deprecated the practice of conducting a 'two-finger test'. "Amit Kumar, the Advocate General appearing for Meghalaya, has tendered a circular dated June 27, 2024, issued by the government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department. This circular has been issued prohibiting the 'two-finger test' and also disciplinary action for its non-compliance," the bench said in its September 3 order. The bench

Tejinder Singh takes charge as Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Vayu Bhawan

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh on Sunday took over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, the Defence Ministry said. After taking charge at the Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), the Air Marshal paid homage to the bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice, by laying wreath at the National War Memorial here. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Singh was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on June 13, 1987. He is a Category 'A' Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4,500 hours of flying and an alumnus of the Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College, the ministry said in a statement. He has commanded a fighter squadron, a radar station, a premier fighter base and was the Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and Kashmir. "His varied staff appointments include Operational Staff at a Command HQ, Air Commodore (Personnel Officers-1) at Air HQ, Deputy Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Financial (Planning)

Error in data robs Meghalaya villagers of PDS entitlement for 13 years

A village with over 50 households in Meghalaya's South West Khasi Hills district has not received foodgrains under the public distribution system for over 13 years, local MLA Renikton Tongkhar told the Assembly on Wednesday. Tongkhar raised the issue during a call attention motion, referencing a newspaper report that highlighted how the villagers of Domtynrong have been deprived of food grains for more than a decade and have also been excluded from government schemes for over 20 years. In response, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon acknowledged the issue, explaining that Domtynrong was inadvertently excluded from the state's public distribution system due to an error in the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011. "In 2011, Domtynrong village was mistakenly classified as uninhabited leading to its exclusion from the NFSA beneficiary list," Ymbon said. The SECC 2011 data serves as the Centre's database for identifying fixed beneficiaries of the NFSA allotted fo

'Fully secure': BSF denies claims of illegal entry from B'desh in Meghalaya

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday said the 443-km India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is fully secure and denied claims of illegal entry by Bangladeshi nationals. The paramilitary force issued a statement after the media in the neighbouring country reported that Awami League leader Ishak Ali Khan Panna died of heart attack while climbing a hill in Meghalaya's Dawki in an attempt to flee his country. Dawki, in Meghalaya East Khasi Hills, is located close to Bangladesh. A BSF spokesperson told PTI, "There is no illegal entry of Bangladesh nationals in the area of responsibility of the Meghalaya Frontier BSF along the Indo-Bangla border. The story of Panna's death being circulated is entirely fabricated. Any attempt at illegal infiltration or activities that compromise the security of our nation will be dealt with firmly." The BSF increased vigil along the border following the August 5 violence in Bangladesh, successfully thwarting several illegal entry attempts and arresting

As the world grapples with rising Mpox cases, India detects a polio case

A two-year-old child in Meghalaya has been confirmed to have polio, raising concerns as India was declared polio-free by WHO in 2014. WHO is looking into the vaccine-derived infection cases

Meghalaya HC bans single-use plastic in temples, shops across state

The Meghalaya High Court has banned single use plastic in temples and shops across the state. The High Court Bench headed by Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan also advocated for introduction of tetra pak cartons, which are primarily made from paper and could be an effective alternative to replace plastics. The fight against plastics is not just an environmental crusade, but a battle for the health and future of our planet. "To begin with, such a move can be started from temple premises. Temple authorities must ensure that there is no usage of plastic bags in and around the worshipping places," the Division Bench said in an order while hearing a PIL on the matter on Friday. "CCTV cameras shall be installed in all temples, so that if anybody carries plastics inside the temple, that can be curtailed to some extent," it added. The bench also imposed a ban on shops from storing and using plastic bags proposing heavy fines to be imposed on violators. "If any shops are found to have stored ..

Reinforcing bamboo fence: Meghalaya villagers on edge after B'desh unrest

From reinforcing a bamboo fence separating them from Bangladeshis to staying up all night for vigil, residents of a Meghalaya village located metres from the international border are on the edge fearing influx of people from the other side after unrest that overthrew the Sheikh Hasina government. The 90-odd residents of Lyngkhong village in East Khasi Hills district had erected a rag-tag bamboo fence along the border during the COVID pandemic to prevent petty crimes from across the border. Lyngkhong is one of several sectors in Meghalaya where border fence could not be constructed due to land demarcation issues and the presence of habitation within 150 yards of the international border pillar or zero line. A quick tour of the village revealed that most of the houses were located very close to the international border, while the only football ground is situated on the zero line, with children playing under the watchful eyes of the BSF at all times. Although Lyngkhong has not ...

29 Awami League leaders, family members found dead in Bangladesh violence

Bangladesh crisis: In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's resignation, Bangladesh is experiencing a wave of violence as mobs target members of her party, along with their families and businesses

Light-to-moderate rainfall likely in east, north-east region in a few hours

The met body has also said that occasional intense spells of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are "very likely" in the region.

Meghalaya set to attract pvt investments worth Rs 8K cr: CM Conrad Sangma

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said Meghalaya is set to attract private investments amounting to Rs 8,000 crore in the current fiscal, attributing this to a new industrial policy aimed at transforming the state into a USD 10 billion economy. "The investment in Meghalaya is an outcome of the new industrial policy that has created an ecosystem for ease of doing business," he said while addressing a workshop on the 'Human Development Leadership Programme' in Tura. Discussing past policies that discouraged investors, Sangma noted, "The system was tedious and time-consuming. Our new industrial policy has provided a framework to give clearance to different statutory requirements within a specified time frame, which is facilitating investors". He revealed that nearly Rs 4,000 crore in investment has been secured in the past year alone. This includes a Rs 2,500-crore thermal power plant to generate 450 megawatt of electricity, an ethanol plant, a beverage manufacturing unit, and

MBOSE SSLC, HSSLC 2024: Arts Result announced at official website of MBOSE

Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) has declared its Class 10 (SSLC) result alongside Class 12 (HSSLC) Arts stream results on the official website of MBOSE at mbose.in

MBOSE 12th board result 2024: Here's how to check and download

MBOSE 12th board result 2024: Class 12th board results have been released today, candidates can check and download the results through the official websites, mbose.in and megresults.nic.in

Storm, heavy rains damage homes in Meghalaya's Khasi Jaintia hills

Several houses were damaged and more than 400 people affected as a storm accompanied by heavy rains lashed several villages in Meghalaya's Khasi Jaintia Hills region, officials said on Monday. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for another 48 hours, they said. "At least 427 people were affected as their homes were destroyed or partially destroyed in at least 13 villages of Khasi Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya on Sunday," a senior disaster management official told PTI. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the district administration is working on a war footing to provide relief to the affected people. "Due to strong winds and heavy rains in some parts of the state, many houses have been damaged. Have asked the administration to immediately provide relief," the CM posted on X. The district deputy commissioners have been directed to remain alert and to provide relief whenever required, a Home Department official said.

Lok Sabha polls 2024 phase 1: 60.03% aggregate voter turnout at 7 pm

The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will see 102 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats go to polls, across 17 states and four Union Territories (UTs)

Voting begins in first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024: 10 key points

The first phase will see voting in 102 out of 534 Lok Sabha seats, across 17 states and four Union Territories

We've many challenges in terms of weather, geography: Meghalaya CEO Tiwari

The Meghalaya CEO also highlighted that there are 50 such polling stations that we can't reach by vehicle so the polling parties will have to walk

LS elections 2024: EC issues notice to VPP for MCC 'violation' in Meghalaya

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to the Voice of the People's Party in Meghalaya over an alleged violation of the model code of conduct by its supporters who were accused of disrupting Lok Sabha poll campaigns of the ruling NPP by raising slogans during public meetings in several locations. The Returning Officer of Shillong parliamentary constituency SC Sadhu also issued another notice to VPP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit after the election agent of NPP candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh alleged that the opposition party was "spreading fake news" using social media. Basaiawmoit was asked to reply by April 12 as to why action should not be taken against his party under the relevant provisions of the model code of conduct. In a complaint to the returning officer, the NPP accused VPP supporters of disrupting election meetings of the party in Ri-Bhoi district on Monday. The VPP supporters allegedly raised slogans while former MLA and NPP state working president Hamletson Dohli

CM Sangma presents Rs 2,029 crore deficit Budget in Meghalaya Assembly

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday presented a Rs 2,029 crore deficit budget for the 2024-25 financial year, calling the document 'Mission 10', an action plan for making the northeastern state a USD 10 billion economy by 2028. In his budget speech, Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that the total receipts stood at Rs 27,072 crore, of which revenue receipts were at Rs 23,515 and capital receipts at Rs 3,557 crore. Excluding borrowings of Rs 3,527 crore, the total receipts were estimated to be at Rs 23,545 crore, while the total expenditure was at Rs 27,072 crore, of which revenue expenditure was estimated to be at Rs 19,653 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 7,419 crore, he said. Excluding the repayment of Rs 1,498 crore loans, the total expenditure is estimated to be at Rs 25,574 crore, the CM said. He said interest payments for the 2024-25 fiscal were estimated to be at Rs 1,236 crore and pension payments at Rs 1,865 crore. "I am, therefore, .

Concerns over CAA addressed, ILP should be extended to Meghalaya: CM

Concerns of Meghalaya over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been addressed as most areas of the state come under Sixth Schedule which are exempted from the citizenship law, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, adding that Inner Line Permit should be extended to the state. In an interview to PTI, Sangma expressed concern over "spill over effect" in the state if the CAA is implemented and stressed on the requirement for Inner Line Permit (ILP), which will restrict entry of outsiders. Asked about CAA, which has faced opposition in the state that shares over 400 kms of border with Bangladesh, Sangma said their concerns have been addressed as it excludes Sixth Schedule areas. "When the CAA had come out in the first draft, there was no provision for exemption for any state. After we raised the concern, we met the home minister, we met other leaders, then there was a revisit in the entire draft and they came up with provision where Meghalaya and other areas with Sixth Schedule and IL

Meghalaya needs to sustain 11.5% GSDP growth to become $10 bn economy: CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday asserted that the state needs to sustain 11.5 per cent annual GSDP growth to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a USD 10 billion economy by 2028. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of a Rs 100 cr bulk water supply project at Ballonggre in West Garo Hill district, Sangma said that the state is at present a Rs 45,000 crore economy and that needs to be improved. "It is a herculean task but the state government has charted out a roadmap to achieve the target," he said. The CM asserted that his government has a vision for the state and investments are being made to build better and sustainable infrastructure, create jobs through entrepreneurship and adopt innovative policies and programmes to increase farmers' income. He said a thrust has been laid on improving rural economy by focusing on enterprises that will leverage the potential of the rich natural resources of the state. He asserted that Meghalaya has won