Shillong : A tribal Garo village chief in Meghalaya was Thursday shot at by suspected rebels of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), police said.
Greaterson R. Marak, the Nokma (village chief) of Jeldapara village in West Garo Hills district, was shot at his shoulder and abdomen while at his residence, they said.
"Initial investigation indicates that GNLA rebels attacked the Nokma for selling a plot of land to an Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) leader," a police official told IANS.
However, a thorough investigation is on to narrow down the exact cause of the incident.
The ANVC, one of the five tribal Garo rebel groups operating in western Meghalaya, is currently on peace talks with the central and the state government. The GNLA has accused the ANVC of helping the police in neutralising their movement.
Both the groups have been involved in war of words for turf supremacy in the Garo Hills region.
The GNLA, which is fighting for a sovereign Garoland, is headed by police officer-turned-rebel Champion R. Sangma. Its followers are mainly deserters of the outlawed ANVC and other rebel outfits.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
More salary, less allowance for Meghalaya legislators
Shillong : Meghalaya legislators have received a salary hike of Rs.15,000 but their travel allowance has been cut by Rs.10,000, a minister said Wednesday.
The Meghalaya cabinet late Tuesday hiked the salaries to Rs.20,000 from the existing Rs.5,000. But it slashed travel allowance from Rs.15,000 to Rs.5,000, said Rowell Lyngdoh, the deputy chief minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.
"Actually, we have not hiked the salaries of legislators. It was an internal adjustment to see the salaries of legislators are higher than the pension received by former legislators," he said.
Former legislators of the state carry home a monthly salary of Rs.13,000, including medical allowances.
The monthly total emoluments of the legislators would remain at Rs.1.3 lakh, said Lyngdoh.
Meghalaya has a single-chamber legislative assembly of 60 seats.
The Meghalaya cabinet late Tuesday hiked the salaries to Rs.20,000 from the existing Rs.5,000. But it slashed travel allowance from Rs.15,000 to Rs.5,000, said Rowell Lyngdoh, the deputy chief minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.
"Actually, we have not hiked the salaries of legislators. It was an internal adjustment to see the salaries of legislators are higher than the pension received by former legislators," he said.
Former legislators of the state carry home a monthly salary of Rs.13,000, including medical allowances.
The monthly total emoluments of the legislators would remain at Rs.1.3 lakh, said Lyngdoh.
Meghalaya has a single-chamber legislative assembly of 60 seats.
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Meghalaya birth attendant blues
Traditional professionals, who claim 100% success, rue lack of govt aid
E.M. JOSE
Traditional birth attendants. Picture by UB Photos
Shillong, Aug 3 : Flora Mynsong, 49, from Umsolait village under Mawhati area of Ri Bhoi district has helped as many as 600 women deliver their babies at home. Mynsong is a traditional birth attendant in Meghalaya, one of the many unsung heroes who play a big role in effective delivery of babies in far-flung areas where there are no hospitals or roads to carry pregnant women to hospital.
For her the task is a god’s gift, which she learnt from her mother, and she does not want to seek any remuneration from the poor women. However, from those who can afford to, she charges a nominal fee of Rs 200 to 300.
Mynsong, who is in this traditional profession since 1995, says giving birth at home was more comfortable for mothers than institutional deliveries. Many traditional birth attendants claim that there was not even a single case of baby deaths while they attended to the pregnant women over the years, compared to hospitals, where post-natal deaths are fairly common.
While institutional delivery in Meghalaya is as low as 46 per cent, the government has not recognised the growing group of traditional birth attendants.
According to the official data for last year, 54 per cent of the population depends on traditional means of delivery.
Commissioner and secretary, health, Meghalaya, D.P. Wahlang said an independent agency should validate the claim of traditional birth attendants that there were no deaths of babies or mothers during the deliveries undertaken by them.
However, an advocate of the traditional herbal healers, including birth attendants, John Kharshiing, said it was high time the government recognised the group and provided assistance to complement the growth of a healthy society.
Kharshiing, who is the chairman of Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP) recently organised a conference of traditional herbal healers here.
The traditional birth attendants use conventional medicines, including mustard oil, for smooth delivery of babies and the newborns are also bathed in warm water with soap.
They also rectify the position of babies through traditional methods for smooth delivery.
Dwil Dohling Thongni, 53, and Iewntine Nongrem, 61, both from Mawkyrwat in West Khasi Hills, have many success stories while fulfilling their role as traditional birth attendants.
Take the case of Tista Maris Wanniang, 63, a resident of Mawkyrwat, who travels from one village to another to cater to pregnant women in far-flung areas. “At a time when there are no roads for the vehicles to carry the pregnant women to hospital, we have assisted them to deliver healthy babies,” she said.
In several villages, where are no health centres, their services have been appreciated by the residents, though the government had not given any due recognition to them, she added.
Men in Meghalaya are also proactive in taking care of home deliveries.
Bigstar Wanniang, 56, from Mawkyrwat and a relative of Tista Maris, is also a traditional birth attendant who has helped as many as 26 pregnant women deliver babies without any any complications. He said in West Khasi Hills there were many men who work as traditional birth attendants with 100 per cent success.
Many women in Shillong, too, depend on traditional birth attendants.
Beauty Kharmawphlang, 45, from the Umpling locality of Shillong, began using traditional methods for delivery of babies since last year. She has handled more than six cases so far successfully.
“Many people call me with the trust that I can safely handle the deliveries and often I don’t charge anything from the poor people,” Kharmawphlang said.
She said there were several instances where babies or pregnant women die during operations by the doctors, unlike in traditional home deliveries.
Moreover, if pregnant women who wish to go for institutional delivery do not reach the hospitals in time, there is a huge risk, she said, adding that lack of proper care in hospitals could also complicate the situation.
The traditional birth attendants who acquired the knowledge from their mothers and uncles want the government to recognise and support them as they are carrying out a selfless service without any monetary benefits.
The commissioner and secretary, health, said the government was not averse to the idea of recognising and acknowledging the services of traditional birth attendants. “We hope that one day a marriage of traditional and modern ways of birth attending will take place to ensure a healthy Meghalaya,” Wahlang said.
E.M. JOSE
Traditional birth attendants. Picture by UB Photos
Shillong, Aug 3 : Flora Mynsong, 49, from Umsolait village under Mawhati area of Ri Bhoi district has helped as many as 600 women deliver their babies at home. Mynsong is a traditional birth attendant in Meghalaya, one of the many unsung heroes who play a big role in effective delivery of babies in far-flung areas where there are no hospitals or roads to carry pregnant women to hospital.
For her the task is a god’s gift, which she learnt from her mother, and she does not want to seek any remuneration from the poor women. However, from those who can afford to, she charges a nominal fee of Rs 200 to 300.
Mynsong, who is in this traditional profession since 1995, says giving birth at home was more comfortable for mothers than institutional deliveries. Many traditional birth attendants claim that there was not even a single case of baby deaths while they attended to the pregnant women over the years, compared to hospitals, where post-natal deaths are fairly common.
While institutional delivery in Meghalaya is as low as 46 per cent, the government has not recognised the growing group of traditional birth attendants.
According to the official data for last year, 54 per cent of the population depends on traditional means of delivery.
Commissioner and secretary, health, Meghalaya, D.P. Wahlang said an independent agency should validate the claim of traditional birth attendants that there were no deaths of babies or mothers during the deliveries undertaken by them.
However, an advocate of the traditional herbal healers, including birth attendants, John Kharshiing, said it was high time the government recognised the group and provided assistance to complement the growth of a healthy society.
Kharshiing, who is the chairman of Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP) recently organised a conference of traditional herbal healers here.
The traditional birth attendants use conventional medicines, including mustard oil, for smooth delivery of babies and the newborns are also bathed in warm water with soap.
They also rectify the position of babies through traditional methods for smooth delivery.
Dwil Dohling Thongni, 53, and Iewntine Nongrem, 61, both from Mawkyrwat in West Khasi Hills, have many success stories while fulfilling their role as traditional birth attendants.
Take the case of Tista Maris Wanniang, 63, a resident of Mawkyrwat, who travels from one village to another to cater to pregnant women in far-flung areas. “At a time when there are no roads for the vehicles to carry the pregnant women to hospital, we have assisted them to deliver healthy babies,” she said.
In several villages, where are no health centres, their services have been appreciated by the residents, though the government had not given any due recognition to them, she added.
Men in Meghalaya are also proactive in taking care of home deliveries.
Bigstar Wanniang, 56, from Mawkyrwat and a relative of Tista Maris, is also a traditional birth attendant who has helped as many as 26 pregnant women deliver babies without any any complications. He said in West Khasi Hills there were many men who work as traditional birth attendants with 100 per cent success.
Many women in Shillong, too, depend on traditional birth attendants.
Beauty Kharmawphlang, 45, from the Umpling locality of Shillong, began using traditional methods for delivery of babies since last year. She has handled more than six cases so far successfully.
“Many people call me with the trust that I can safely handle the deliveries and often I don’t charge anything from the poor people,” Kharmawphlang said.
She said there were several instances where babies or pregnant women die during operations by the doctors, unlike in traditional home deliveries.
Moreover, if pregnant women who wish to go for institutional delivery do not reach the hospitals in time, there is a huge risk, she said, adding that lack of proper care in hospitals could also complicate the situation.
The traditional birth attendants who acquired the knowledge from their mothers and uncles want the government to recognise and support them as they are carrying out a selfless service without any monetary benefits.
The commissioner and secretary, health, said the government was not averse to the idea of recognising and acknowledging the services of traditional birth attendants. “We hope that one day a marriage of traditional and modern ways of birth attending will take place to ensure a healthy Meghalaya,” Wahlang said.
Dropped Meghalaya Minister Sworn in Again
Nearly two months after he was dropped from the ministry along with three others for rebelling against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Prestone Tyngsong was today re-inducted into the state cabinet.
He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor RS Moshahahary at Raj Bhavan this evening.
Immediately after being sworn in, Tyngsong said his induction was done as per the directions of the party high command.
Having revolted against Sangma, a visibly happy Tyngsong now said, "The question of leadership change does not arise at all. Madam (Sonia Gandhi) said this".
Asked about his stand on the continuance of Mukul Sangma as chief minister, Tyngsong said, "We are satisfied."
On frequent internal bickering in the ruling Congress, he said, "There would always be problems in a family."
The decision to induct him comes in the wake of the dissidents, led by former chief minister DD Lapang, demanding re-induction of the dropped ministers as a condition to bury the hatchet with the CM.
Sangma had earlier named SW Rymbai for the 12th berth but he did not turn up for the swearing-in ceremony in which three others were also replaced in June.
It was not clear whether the other three dropped ministers would also be re-inducted.
One of them, Augustine Marak, said on the sidelines of Tyngsong's swearing-in-ceremony that he expected to be re-inducted. "The process is on."
He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor RS Moshahahary at Raj Bhavan this evening.
Immediately after being sworn in, Tyngsong said his induction was done as per the directions of the party high command.
Having revolted against Sangma, a visibly happy Tyngsong now said, "The question of leadership change does not arise at all. Madam (Sonia Gandhi) said this".
Asked about his stand on the continuance of Mukul Sangma as chief minister, Tyngsong said, "We are satisfied."
On frequent internal bickering in the ruling Congress, he said, "There would always be problems in a family."
The decision to induct him comes in the wake of the dissidents, led by former chief minister DD Lapang, demanding re-induction of the dropped ministers as a condition to bury the hatchet with the CM.
Sangma had earlier named SW Rymbai for the 12th berth but he did not turn up for the swearing-in ceremony in which three others were also replaced in June.
It was not clear whether the other three dropped ministers would also be re-inducted.
One of them, Augustine Marak, said on the sidelines of Tyngsong's swearing-in-ceremony that he expected to be re-inducted. "The process is on."
Meghalaya to introduce health insurance scheme
Shillong - The Meghalaya government will introduce a health insurance scheme for those whose annual income is below Rs.5 lakh, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said Monday.
"The proposed insurance coverage would be Rs.1 lakh per family and incase of critical situation, a family can avail upto Rs.2 lakh per year," Sangma told journalists.
The government will soon chalk out the details of the new health insurance scheme, including the amount of premium that should be paid by the beneficiaries, he said.
Meghalaya government has implemented the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), a central sponsored health insurance scheme for the BPL families.
Since the implementation of RSBY for BPL families has already started, Sangma said the government will work out a convergence exercise to upscale the quantum of amount for the insurance coverage for all in the state.
Under RSBY, each BPL family can avail health insurance benefits upto Rs.30,000 per year in which 90 percent cost of the premium is borne by the central government and 10 percent by the state government. The BPL families need to pay only Rs.30 as their share of premium for registration to avail the benefits under the scheme.
"The intention of the government to introduce the universal health insurance is to ensure that all categories of people avail best health care facilities at an affordable price," Sangma said.
He said the government had held discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for creating a corpus fund for implementing the universal health insurance scheme.
Apart from the ADB, Sangma said the government would also seek financial assistance from the centre to implement the health insurance scheme.
"We will carry out a bidding process to select an insurance provider to implement the scheme without delay," he said.
Read more: http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/national/214161/meghalaya-to-introduce-health-insurance-scheme/#ixzz1TsbLZmIM
"The proposed insurance coverage would be Rs.1 lakh per family and incase of critical situation, a family can avail upto Rs.2 lakh per year," Sangma told journalists.
The government will soon chalk out the details of the new health insurance scheme, including the amount of premium that should be paid by the beneficiaries, he said.
Meghalaya government has implemented the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), a central sponsored health insurance scheme for the BPL families.
Since the implementation of RSBY for BPL families has already started, Sangma said the government will work out a convergence exercise to upscale the quantum of amount for the insurance coverage for all in the state.
Under RSBY, each BPL family can avail health insurance benefits upto Rs.30,000 per year in which 90 percent cost of the premium is borne by the central government and 10 percent by the state government. The BPL families need to pay only Rs.30 as their share of premium for registration to avail the benefits under the scheme.
"The intention of the government to introduce the universal health insurance is to ensure that all categories of people avail best health care facilities at an affordable price," Sangma said.
He said the government had held discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for creating a corpus fund for implementing the universal health insurance scheme.
Apart from the ADB, Sangma said the government would also seek financial assistance from the centre to implement the health insurance scheme.
"We will carry out a bidding process to select an insurance provider to implement the scheme without delay," he said.
Read more: http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/national/214161/meghalaya-to-introduce-health-insurance-scheme/#ixzz1TsbLZmIM
Monday, 1 August 2011
sciSCREEN light - Page One
The next event will be a sciSCREEN light on Thursday September 29th from 8.30pm at Chapter Arts Centre.
Drs. Andy Williams and Verica Rupar of the School of Journalism Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC), Cardiff University will introduce the film Page One with a talk on whether the United States and British Journalism is in crisis.
More information to follow...
Drs. Andy Williams and Verica Rupar of the School of Journalism Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC), Cardiff University will introduce the film Page One with a talk on whether the United States and British Journalism is in crisis.
More information to follow...
Six killed in Meghalaya bus accident
Shillong, Aug 1 : Six people, including a woman, were killed and 30 others injured Sunday when a bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district, police said.
The accident took place at Mawmaram village, about 40 km from state capital Shillong, said N. Rajamarthandan, West Khasi Hills district police chief.
"Four people, including a woman, died on the spot, while the driver of the bus and a passenger succumbed to injuries at hospital," Rajamarthandan told IANS by phone.
The bus was ferrying passengers to Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills from Shillong, he said.
The accident took place at Mawmaram village, about 40 km from state capital Shillong, said N. Rajamarthandan, West Khasi Hills district police chief.
"Four people, including a woman, died on the spot, while the driver of the bus and a passenger succumbed to injuries at hospital," Rajamarthandan told IANS by phone.
The bus was ferrying passengers to Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills from Shillong, he said.
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