North East Rising

Meghalaya, August 22: The ‘Restart Meghalaya Mission’ is launched to revive the State economy, which has been hit hard due to the pandemic. He announced the launch after hoisting the flag at Polo Ground on Saturday.

“This mission comprises a series of programs to support our farmers, and entrepreneurs and to build growth-promoting basic infrastructure and services. We are calling this mission ‘Restart because we want to revive and give a push to the different development activities that were brought to a standstill by COVID,” he said. He said that the mission was recommended by the Chief Minister’s Task Force. An amount of Rs. 14,515 crore is to be spent over the next three years for the Mission and out of this, Rs. 7,839 crore has been earmarked for this year.

The Chief Minister also mentioned six programmes under Restart Meghalaya Mission which include agriculture and it’s allied sectors, promotion of well-being and livelihoods in a rural area, providing one-time grant support of up to Rs. 10,000 for any new small business, loans of up to Rs. 50,000 for small businesses and entrepreneurs under the Chief Minister’s Support programme. He also committed a total investment of Rs. 8,753 crore over the next three years in developing the infrastructure and 13 major roads covering a length of about 350km will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 850 crore.

Stating the close to 50,000 people’s livelihood depends on tourism, he said, “Unfortunately, it might take many more months for normal travel and tourism to be restored. However, I am hopeful we will be able to do limited and restricted opening as and when the COVID situation improves in the rest of the country.” As private investment might be difficult to come through, the government will make the investments of about Rs. 200 crore in creating high-value accommodation and tourism infrastructure to help get Meghalaya economy back to a stable point.

The next area of importance is Human Development. “We are taking steps to ensure that children continue to learn, despite the shutting down if schools. To facilitate remote learning, we are planning to distribute tablets to 25,000 class eleven students.”

Manipur, Aug 24: MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh has been expelled from Manipur Congress for six months. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary Hareshwar Goshwami issued an order on Thursday.

The order said: “On the recommendation of the Disciplinary Action Committee, MPCC, the president, MPCC, is pleased to expel Shri Rajkumar Imo Singh, MLA, from the Indian National Congress for 6 (six) years under the Constitution of Indian National Congress.”

“On his expulsion, Shri Rajkumar Imo Singh ceased to be a primary member of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect,” it added.

Manipur Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei tweeted that: “Congress party has expelled MLA RK Imo from the party and its primary membership for 6 years for anti-party activities. The PCC President of Manipur Shri M. Okendro has expelled the MLA, as the MLA was supporting BJP Govt. by involving in anti-Congress moves.”

In response to his expulsion by the Congress, R K Imo Singh said “I was expelled by the MPCC despite complying with the INC party whip and also voting in favour of INC on August 10 against the confidence motion raised by the BJP led State Government”, Imo said.

A total of 6 Congress MLAs resigned after the trust vote in Manipur to settle the confidence motion. Five of these former Congress MLAs have joined the BJP and were accompanied by N.Biren Singh to Delhi for induction into the party. MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh was also travelling with them to Delhi, on August 17. Rajkumar voted for the BJP candidate in Rajya Sabha polls held recently. Rajkumar Imo Singh is the son-in-law of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh.

“My expulsion has only proved that CLP leader Okram Ibobi will continue to run the INC as he pleases and the few other so-called leaders will blindly follow him without application of mind. If at all, I was to be expelled, it should have been done after the Rajya Sabha election when I voted for the titular king, and not now after having voted for Congress in the Assembly session against the motion of confidence raised by the BJP-led Government”, he said.

“As of now, I cannot say much on Imo. Though he is my son-in-law, what decision he will take is up to him. Let’s hope, wait and watch,” Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh said regarding questions about R K Imo Singh.

Imphal, Aug 22: The All Manipur Ayush Doctors’ Association (AMADA) has refused to work under the pay scale fixed for Ayush doctors in the recruitment advertisement by Ayush Society that was recently issued. They have demanded a decent and acceptable pay scale before they join to fill the vacancies in Integrated Ayush Hospitals.

Speaking to media at its correspondent office at Keishampat, AMADA’s publicity secretary Dr Khangembam Gopeshore stated that the Ayush Society had on August 12 issued an advertisement for recruitment of 6 Ayush doctors and 1 multi-tasking staff for the Integrated Ayush Hospital, Lamphelpat.

According to the advertisement issued by Ayush Society, the pay scale of the Ayush doctor’s was fixed at the rate of Rs 500 per day which amounts to about Rs 10,000 a month (500 x 20 working days).

Gopeshore added that the State of Nagaland had also published an advertisement for the recruitment of Ayush doctor’s on July 16. As per their advertisement, an Ayush specialist doctor’s pay was fixed at the rate of Rs 75,175 per month and that of non-specialist was fixed at Rs 70,925 per month. The pay scale for MBBS doctors and Ayush doctor’s are the same in Tripura, as both are being paid Rs 50,000 per month.

He asked that the pay scale of the Ayush doctor’s should be rectified before the scheduled interview on August 24 to fill the vacant posts at the Integrated Ayush Hospital, in Lamphelpat.

Gopeshore has appealed to the State Government and the Ayush Society to consider AMADA’s appeal and fix a suitable and acceptable pay scale for the Ayush doctors.

Shillong, Aug 23: With the increase in number of COVID19 cases in the country and movement of people from other parts of the country, new cases of COVID19 are emerging in the border state of Meghalaya and to arrest any further spread and contain it at a very initial stage District administration, West Garo Hills and BSF Tura are working in tandem to Quarantine, isolate and testing for the COVID19 of all the troops arriving from other States for duty on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

To provide adequate Medicare facility to the Covid-19 patients, an initiative has been taken by BSF Tura under the direction of Kuldeep Saini, Inspector General, BSF, Meghalaya Frontier.

A COVID Healing Centre with a capacity of 75 beds has been created at Bewegre, Tura to be run by Medical Officers and Paramedical Staff from BSF. The facility was opened by Ram Singh, IAS, District Magistrate, West Garo Hills for treatment of COVID patients of all BSF Units deployed in the Garo Hills Region.

This will ease the pressure on the COVID Care Center and Civil hospital at Tura.

The facility was inspected by Dr Mukrang Terang, District Surveillance Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura and Dr Ivonne M Sangma, District Maternal and Child Health Officer cum Addl. District Surveillance Officer, West Garo Hills Tura. They expressed their satisfaction with the facilities and affirmed that this will go a long way in providing good Medicare to the COVID patients for early and fast recovery.

This is the first-ever facility created by BSF in Meghalaya State under the supervision of Surjit Singh, DIG BSF, Sector Headquarter Tura for COVID19 care.

On this occasion, J K Singh, Commandant, Sector Headquarter BSF Tura, K N Tripathi, Commandant and Dr S K Verma CMO(SG) were also present.