Meghalaya - The Purbottar

15 Aug

“Create Responsible Leaders, Not Just Managers”: IIM Shillong Director On Independence Day

Preeti SinghMeghalaya

Indian Institute of Management Shillong celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and a strong message on responsible leadership, inclusive growth and nation-building.The celebrations began with the hoisting of the National Tricolour by IIM Shillong Director Prof. (Dr.) Arun Mohan Sherry. The 100-foot-high national flag symbolised the institution’s aspirations and its commitment to contributing to India’s development. Members of the IIM Shillong fraternity joined in singing the National Anthem, reaffirming their shared sense of pride and unity.Addressing the gathering, Prof. Sherry urged young management professionals to emerge as responsible leaders who combine professional excellence with empathy, integrity and a…

02 Aug

Aakash Expands In Northeast: New Shillong Centre + 100% Fee Waiver For Families Of Martyred Assam Rifles Personnel

Preeti SinghMeghalaya

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), one of India’s leading test preparation and educational services organisations, has opened its first centre in Meghalaya and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assam Rifles to strengthen educational support for its personnel and their families. The new Aakash Institute centre in Shillong marks the organisation’s first physical presence in Meghalaya and becomes its 10th centre in the Northeast. Located at Holding No. 383, Don Bosco Square, Upland Road, opposite St Margaret’s H.S. School in Nongkynrih, Laitumkhrah, the 7,000-square-foot centre has six classrooms with a combined capacity of more than 300 students. The centre…

15 Jun

‘Roads Will Change Lives’: Gadkari Unveils ₹3,214 Cr NH Projects; CM Says Meghalaya 3rd Fastest-Growing Economy

Preeti SinghMeghalaya

In a major boost to Meghalaya's infrastructure landscape and regional connectivity, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, today laid the foundation stones for four new highway projects and upgradation of two existing National Highways worth a cumulative investment of ₹3,214 crore at a programme held at Polo Grounds, Shillong.These projects will be a big step in improving regional connectivity, upgradation of transport networks, facilitating trade and commerce and expediting socio-economic development across Meghalaya and the Northeast. The initiatives are likely to improve mobility, reduce travel time, enhance logistics efficiency and open new…

06 Jun

Meghalaya Completes 90% of Bangladesh Border Fencing Work

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

Meghalaya has made significant progress in strengthening security along its international boundary with Bangladesh, with nearly 90 per cent of the border fencing work already completed, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said. The northeastern state shares a 443-km-long border with Bangladesh, of which around 400 km has already been fenced. According to the Chief Minister, only about 40 to 45 km of fencing work remains to be completed. Sangma said the pending stretches are no longer facing major construction-related hurdles. Instead, the remaining delays are largely linked to local issues, including concerns over land ownership, village access routes and objections…

08 May

Meghalaya Govt Says Monitoring Illegal Coal Mining Difficult Due to Numerous Mines

riya EditorMeghalaya

The Meghalaya government has acknowledged that the massive scale of coal mining operations in the state, particularly in East Jaintia Hills, has made effective monitoring and enforcement against illegal mining extremely challenging. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the 37th Interim Report of the Justice (Retd.) B.P. Katakey Committee had pointed out continued illegal coal extraction and transportation despite court restrictions. However, he maintained that the government remains committed to implementing all court directives. “The report itself mentions that East Jaintia Hills alone has around 22,000 mines. This makes continuous monitoring extremely difficult with the existing manpower and administrative setup,”…

06 May

CM Sangma Announces Infrastructure Overhaul to Elevate Meghalaya on the Global Tourism Map

nanika EditorMeghalaya

In a major move to solidify its position as a premier travel destination, the Meghalaya government has unveiled a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at expanding community-led tourism and boosting youth employment. During a “Tourism Champions” event held at the Orchid Lake Resort in Umiam, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira detailed a multi-pronged strategy to transform the state’s hospitality landscape. Central to this push is the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission. The government handed out sanction letters to the inaugural batch of applicants, marking the start of an ambitious journey to establish 3,000 new…

29 Apr

Guwahati woman found safe after disappearance, says solo trip to Shillong was driven by emotional distress

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

A woman from Guwahati whose disappearance had sparked concern across social media and among residents over the last two days has returned home safely and revealed that she had travelled to Shillong with thoughts of ending her life. Bhabana Sarma broke her silence nearly 48 hours after she went missing by posting a video message on social media, where she explained the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and denied rumours that had circulated online during the search for her. In the video statement, she said no outsider or cab driver was involved in her disappearance and clarified that she had travelled…

23 Feb

Over Rs 4 Crore Dispute Pushes Mawkhar Presbyterian Church into Crisis

nanika EditorMeghalaya

The Mawkhar Presbyterian Church is grappling with one of the most serious crises in its history following alleged financial irregularities exceeding Rs 4 crore, leading to a sharp fallout with the KJP Synod Sepngi.The controversy began after discrepancies were found in church accounts for the financial years 2016–2019. A reconciliation process in June 2019 revealed inconsistencies between cash records and bank deposits. Initial verification of documents—including cash books, passbooks, deposit slips, and SBI Bara Bazar Branch statements—showed a shortfall of around Rs 2.86 crore.Further disclosures indicated that a portion of the discrepancy had reportedly been known since 2017 during an…

03 Dec

Conrad Hits Back At State Cong Chief Over Remark On New Regional Front

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

In a sharp riposte to Meghalaya Congress chief Vincent H. Pala’s remark on regional front “One North East” as nothing but a BJP-RSS plan, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday hit back, alleging that the Opposition party was ‘already’ a divided house, and hence need not be further divided. “Nobody needs to work to divide them as Congress is already a divided house,” Sangma stated. The Chief Minister also said that as “One North East”, they are not here to fight against or oppose anyone since the front is here from a positive perspective of unification and to…

02 Dec

Border Fencing Work Gains Momentum, Target Set for Completion by 2026

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

After a lengthy period of interruptions lasting nearly two decades, fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is now progressing significantly. The Border Security Force (BSF) is optimistic that the entire 443-km stretch will be completed by the end of 2026, representing a crucial step in bolstering border security. Inspector General (IG) Upadhyay reported that approximately 20 km of fencing was finalized and made operational in the previous year. However, this progress has been hindered by various challenges, including ongoing legal disputes, objections from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and pushback from local communities. Despite these barriers, the BSF has…