Society / Meghalaya

SHILLONG, May 4 — Mortality rate of children below the age of five years in Meghalaya has been put at a startling 122, much above of the national figure of 94.9, during 1994-98 when the second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) was conducted throughout the country, reports PTI. Meghalaya was placed only second to undivided Uttar Pradesh, which accounted for 122.5 deaths to children below the age of five per 1000 births. The mortality rate of the same age group of children in Meghalaya during 1988-92, when the first such survey was undertaken, was put at 86.9.

The data of the survey, which...

Shillong, April 8: How does one describe a septuagenarian woman who gives up her family riches to live in a cave? Eccentric or compulsively adventurous?

Seventy-one-year-old Bris Sibon Basiawmoit’s lifestyle — far from the madding crowd and closest to nature — qualifies her to be branded a combination of both. Lovingly called Mei Deng by those close to her, she has been staying in a cave at Um Sharang in Ri Bhoi district for seven years now.

Ask her why she lives alone in a cave and Basiawmoit’s reply is a simple one.

“I am happy here, unlike in the cities, which are far and full of problems...

New Delhi, April 5: The Meghalaya government has begun preparing a policy to turn the state into a favoured tourist destination and to open up new avenues for employment and income-generation.

Meghalaya tourism minister and former chief minister, F.A. Khonglam, said the policy was necessitated by the “lack of response” in the sector “despite the state’s tremendous potential”.

“It is surprising that the previous governments did not think of formulating a policy that would clearly spell out the thrust areas in this sector. Now that the exercise has begun, we expect it to be completed before...

SHILLONG, April 1 — The sleepy hamlet of Lynshing went agog last Sunday. The villagers had an occasion to rejoice — a function to felicitate their representative in the Legislative Assembly, Martle Mukhim. With nothing much happening in this remote village in the war area of East Khasi Hills, the simple function turned festive. There was music in between short speeches by village elders. And there was arrangement for the traditional Khasi bamkhana literally meaning community feast.

Except for a few, almost all the 1400 villagers gathered in the village field and enjoyed every moment of the...

SHILLONG, March 31— Meghalaya government has decided to declare Sunday as dry day from April, when sale of foreign liquors and country spirits would be banned and bonded warehouses would be closed.

However, keeping an eye on tourists, bars would be kept out of the purview of the order, state Excise Minister P T Sawkmie told a press conference here.

He said the timing of sale of foreign liquor and country spirit in different outlets in East Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts have also been changed while that in other districts would remain unchanged. A law to prevent minors from drinking...

SHILLONG, March 25 — Only 11 tribes belonging to the State of Meghalaya will be eligible to buy land in the State once the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971 is amended, Chief Minister DD Lapang said today.

Describing the proposed amendment as “high sensitive” and “debatable”, Lapang informed the Meghalaya assembly that it is the intention of the government to prune the number of tribes eligible to buy land in the State from the present 54 to only 11.

Under the proposed amendment only the Khasi, Jaintia and Garos and also the indigenous Hmar, Baite, Karbi, Lalung (Tiwa), Rabha...

Shillong, March 13: Student leader-turned-politician Paul Lyngdoh today said that no activities barring sports would be allowed at the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and other venues meant for sports and games.

“No messing around with sports venues will be allowed,” Lyngdoh, who was recently inducted as sports minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, stated categorically while carrying out an inspection of the sports complexes at the Polo Ground.

The Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and the three other arenas on Polo Ground are the only venues available for sports like...

SHILLONG, Feb 3 ? The annual pilgrimage to the sacred U Lum Sohpetbneng peak in Umiam, about 20 kms from here was organised today drawing thousands of followers of the Khasi traditional faith from all parts of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The day-long pilgrimage, was organised by the Seng Khasi, the spiritual and cultural custodian of the ?Hynniewtrep? people comprising the Khasi and Jaintia races. The Hynniewtrep community fondly regards the Sohpetbneng peak as the trusted divine sentinel, jealously guarding the spiritual belief, the territorial integrity and cultural heritage of the Khasi...

Shillong, January 6: Tempers are running high among doctors in Meghalaya over the government’s refusal to negotiate with the banned Achik National Liberation Council (ANVC) to secure the release of East Garo Hills District Health and Medical Officer P.N. Bezbaruah, who was abducted recently.

The F.A. Khonglam-led NCP coalition government has also refused to cough up the Rs 20-lakh ransom demanded by the Achik National Liberation Council.

The Chief Minister told The Indian Express he had left it to the police and district administration to secure Bezbaruah’s release. But added he expected...

Shillong, Jan. 3: A resident of the Meghalaya capital has won the Rs 4-crore jackpot in a hugely popular online lottery but is unwilling to disclose his identity, lest extortionists come knocking on his door. Agents of Playwin, which conducts the Sikkim Super Lotto draw, confirmed that the person who had hit the jackpot was from Shillong. However, they declined to divulge if the winner had staked claim to the prize.

A source said the winner was from a middle-class family and had purchased the lucky ticket a few hours before the draw, shown live on a television channel. It is presumed that the...