Sonakshi Sarkar, Author at

30 Oct

SSA teachers in Meghalaya to get job security, confirms Chief Minister

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsMeghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has assured the state’s 13,000 Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers that a policy for job security will soon be implemented. Meeting with representatives from the Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) in Tura, Sangma promised in-depth discussions to draft a policy aimed at regularizing SSA teachers’ services. The assurance comes as MSSASA recently issued a two-month ultimatum for action on job security. MSSASA president Aristole C Rymbai expressed optimism following the meeting, calling it "productive." In a related move on October 24, the Meghalaya cabinet approved an increase in the upper age limit for SSA…

30 Oct

Dimapur Police urge safe firecracker use ahead of Diwali

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsNagaland

head of Diwali, Dimapur police have issued an advisory to regulate firecracker use, urging citizens to prioritize safety and reduce pollution. Commissioner of Police Kevithuto Sophie highlighted the harmful environmental impact, health concerns, and stress caused to animals and sensitive individuals from excessive firecracker noise. The advisory permits firecracker use during specific timeframes: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Diwali, Gurpurab, and similar festivals, while Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are limited to 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Only "green crackers," approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), will be allowed, with eco-friendly types like safe water…

29 Oct

Dimapur Police issues firecracker ban ahead of festive season

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsNagaland

With the festive season around the corner, Nagaland's Dimapur Commissioner of Police has issued a strict advisory cautioning citizens about the firecracker ban in place, aimed at promoting a safe and eco-friendly celebration. The advisory urges residents to avoid firecracker use, citing the environmental hazards and health risks posed by loud explosions and toxic emissions, which can stress both humans and animals. Specific guidelines permit firecracker use only during Diwali, from 8 pm to 10 pm, and on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am. However, only Reduced Emission (Green) Crackers, approved by the Petroleum and…

28 Oct

Extensive search operations launched in Manipur’s Hill and Valley districts

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsManipur

Security forces have escalated operations across both hill and valley districts of Manipur. Extensive search operations and area domination exercises are underway, focusing on vulnerable areas to preempt potential threats and stabilize the region. Authorities have facilitated the movement of essential supplies, ensuring that 320 vehicles transporting critical goods were allowed passage along National Highway-2. Stringent security protocols are now in place in high-risk areas, with convoy escorts arranged for sensitive segments of the highway to ensure the uninterrupted and safe transit of these supplies. As part of the enhanced security measures, a network of 109 checkpoints, known locally as…

26 Oct

Sikkim students celebrate inauguration of handwashing station

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsSikkim

On October 25, a handwashing station was inaugurated at the Government Senior Secondary School in Bariakhop, Sikkim, to enhance hygiene and health among students. The event brought together students, teachers, and members of the school management committee, all united in the effort to promote better health practices. This initiative aims to provide students with the necessary facilities to wash their hands effectively, especially before meals and after using toilet facilities, thereby reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall well-being. The inauguration was supported by the Sulabh Sanitation Club, an affiliate of Sulabh International, New Delhi. Team members Rupak Roy…

25 Oct

Gulzar takes top poetry honor at Pen n Paper Book Awards

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsMeghalaya

Acclaimed Meghalaya author Janice Pariat has clinched the Best Fiction award at the inaugural Pen n Paper Book Awards for her novel Everything The Light Touches. The HarperCollins India publication stood out among a competitive field in the newly launched literary awards program, which celebrated excellence across ten categories.Veteran poet Gulzar took top honors in the poetry category for his collection Baal-o-Par: Collected Poems, while historian Vikram Sampath won Best Non-Fiction for Waiting for Shiva, a deep dive into Kashi’s Gyan Vapi. Launched to recognize both seasoned and emerging voices in Indian literature, the awards offer a significant platform for…

23 Oct

Kuki organisation for Human Rights raises alarm over tribal safety

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsManipur

The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The state has been gripped by conflict since May 2023, with over 200 lives lost. In a letter to PM Modi, KOHUR accused the Meitei community of launching a “majoritarian mayhem” aimed at seizing tribal lands. The group expressed concerns over repeated violations of tribal constitutional protections and human rights. KOHUR urged the NHRC to take immediate action to prevent what they described as a "Meitei ethnic cleansing pogrom" and…

22 Oct

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is highly hopeful regarding Nagaland National Highways

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsNagaland

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, reviewed Nagaland's National Highways on the 21st in the presence of Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang and both MoS for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra. He assessed the progress of 29 NH projects spanning 545 kilometers in Nagaland. During the meeting, they discuss the importance of accelerating transport infrastructure development in Nagaland while stressing sustainability and cost-efficiency. These measures will considerably improve connectivity, stimulate local economic growth, and help the region become more integrated into India's general development. Sh. Gadkari noted that Nagaland's roadways are…

22 Oct

Weapons and ammunition seized in Kangpokpi as security forces step up patrols

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsManipur

In a major crackdown, security forces seized a cache of arms and ammunition during an area domination exercise in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, officials reported on Tuesday. The operation in Aigejang village led to the recovery of a .303 rifle, a 9mm CMG with a magazine, a 9mm pistol, a single-barrel shotgun (SBBL), two 51mm mortars, two hand grenades, five rounds of live ammunition, and two smoke grenades, authorities confirmed. As part of ongoing efforts to secure vulnerable areas, search operations and security patrols were intensified in both the hill and valley districts. The movement of 194 vehicles on NH-37 and…

22 Oct

HITO files complaints over chaotic cement plant hearing in Meghalaya

Sonakshi Sarkar0 CommentsMeghalaya

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has lodged formal complaints against the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills district, accusing them of mishandling a public hearing on a proposed cement plant in Meghalaya. The environmental public hearing for Meghatop Cement Pvt. Ltd.'s integrated plant, held on October 18 in Wahiejer village, reportedly descended into chaos when armed supporters allegedly blocked protesters from attending the event. According to HITO, affected citizens were barred from entry and faced physical attacks from lathi-wielding supporters. In its complaints to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Human Rights…