NORTH-EASTERN STATES

Earlier, there was no mobile Network in the border areas but the situation has changed now with residents enjoying Internet service and mobile connectivity even at Bum-La and Y-Junction but more improvement is needed.

MeghalayaAgriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister,Banteidor Lyngdoh, inaugurated the bio-fertilizer production unit, the first of its kind in the public sector in the northeast at a function held at theState Biological Control Laboratory, Upper Shillong.

Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission chairman KN Kumar said the bio-fertilizer production unit is the first of its kind to be set up in the entire northeastern Region by a public sector unit.
“In Meghalaya the requirement of Fertilizers per year is 22,000 metric tonnes whereas the current production in the state is a mere 150 metric tonnes per year.

About 80% of the school students in Nagaland, Meghalaya andMizoram, characterised by difficult terrains and remoteness, walk to school while nearly same the Percentage of students in Goa either take the bus, family vehicle or ride bicycles to school.
The Foundational Learning Study report 2022 compiled by theUnion ministry of educationand National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) show that against the national Average of 55% of students walking to school, 84% walk to school in Nagaland, followed by 80% each in Meghalaya and Mizoram. On the other side of the spectrum, only a little over 20% students in Goa walk to school. In the national capital, 50% go to school on foot.

In Nagaland, 9% of students travel to and from school in private four-wheelers or two or three-wheelers while 3% go in school buses, 2% use public transport and the 1% go to school on bicycles.

In Mizoram and Meghalaya, the report said schools are able to provide transportation facility to only 1% and 2% students respectively, while 3% and 4% students respectively avail public transport to attend school.

At 52%,Tripurahas the lowest percentage of students in the region who need to go to the school on foot. In other categories too, Tripura is better or on a par with the national average while travelling to school in own transport.

The Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for running three new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

The schools are being constructed at Nyapin in Kurung Kumey district, Khela in Tirap, and Tirbin in Leparada, and would start functioning from the next academic session, the Education Department officials said. The MoUs were signed between the Arunachal Pradesh Ekalvya Model Residential School Society (APEMRSS) and NGOs Gyamar Art and Cultural Society, Arunachal Shiksha Vikas Samiti and VKV Arunachal Trust. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who was present on the occasion, appreciated the NGOs for volunteering to run the institutions to impart quality education to rural children.

In a significant milestone in Meghalayas fight against drug abuse and trafficking,DREAM(Drug Reduction, Elimination & Action Mission) was launched by chief ministerConrad K. Sangmaduring a function organised by theMeghalaya Policeand social welfare department on Monday. The theme of the programme was People First: Stop Stigma & Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.

The vision of the targeted mission is to build a drug- free Meghalaya that leverages culture and communities through a multifaceted coordinated strategy to eliminate the incidence of substance use in the state.

The (CAG) has asked the Assam government to review the Compassionate Family Pension (CFP) scheme as it not only defies legal principles but also has put an estimated additional financial burden of Rs 156.91 crore per annum on the state exchequer.

The State Government has not asked for separate budget allocation for the CFP scheme and by booking the entire expenditure under ‘pension’ has violated budget and accounting rules applicable to a new scheme, the CAG said in its report for the year 2019 that was tabled in the ongoing budget session of the assembly.

The financial outgo under the scheme, introduced in April 2017, has been Rs 171.55 crore so far and audit has estimated an additional financial burden of Rs 156.91 crore per annum on the state exchequer.

Besides, the state government has extended the benefits of the CFP scheme to cover officers of the All India Services (AIS), whose pension and family pension is borne by the Centre, without consulting the latter, the CAG said.

Moreover, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high rate of positive cases as well as mortality rate, the financial burden on the state exchequer may increase to an unbearable proportion in the years to come, the report pointed out.

After proving its supremacy in the market of raw pineapple, Tripura is all set to touch new heights in production and Marketing of processed pineapple in canned form. This year, the first production unit established in Unakoti district of the state has set a target of five to ten lakhs pieces of processed pineapple in canned format for the national market.

According to him, the pineapple is procured from the farmers at a static price fixed by the farmers committee and the selling prices depend on the production.

The state cabinet on Friday approvedamendmentto theMeghalaya Goodsand Services Tax Act, 2017 by issuance of an ordinance (Meghalaya Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.

“The central government has brought amendments to the CentralGST Act2017 and in view of this, amendments to the State Act was necessitated in order to effect the corresponding changes made by the central act and to simultaneously implement the changes made,” said chief ministerConrad K Sangma, who holds the finance portfolio.

The cabinet also approved the proposal to frame theMeghalayaForensic Science LaboratoryService Rules2021, which entails framing of service rules to govern the conditions of services of its officers. The cabinet also approved the retention of registration mark of old motor vehicles on a new vehicle after the sale or scrapping of the old vehicle.

In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases, theTripuragovernment on Thursday decided to discontinue on-campus classes forstudentsof standards I and II indefinitely from Friday while the classes ofIIIand IV will be held on alternative days.

The department has reviewed the situation and received feedback from the stakeholders, based on which the decision was taken to suspend junior classes as of now. The others will be attendingschool.

The newMeghalaya governmentwill lay focus on sectors such as farming, tourism, , Health and youth, outgoing CMConrad K Sangmasaid.

The State Government has also been focusing on ensuring that implementation of programmes and schemes are done in a proper manner