Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 990/20

NIGHT CURFEW EXTENDED IN EAST KHASI HILLS

The District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 7th November, 2020 has extended the Night Curfew in East Khasi Hills District with effect from 7th November, 2020 upto 14th November, 2020, only for timings falling between 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM each day. The order will not apply to medical teams and officials on COVID-19 duty, police, security and armed forces, civil defence and home guard volunteers, wholesale and retail pharmacies, fire and emergency service, MeECL, NEEPCO and Power Grid, FCI vehicles, officers and staff of corona care centres, press, print and electronic, Information and Public Relations Department, National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Shillong Municipal Board and telecom service.

These services shall strictly comply with all the protocols and procedures including social distancing, limiting of field staff to the barest minimum and other advisories of Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail. Movement of vehicles carrying essential goods, security forces, medical equipments and shops for repair of trucks on highways are also exempted. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid down protocols. However, exemption granted to official and non-official emergency and essential services, establishments and agencies shall not extend to containment areas. Curfew passes for timings falling between 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM with effect from 7th November, 2020 upto 14th November, 2020 can be obtained via online application at eastkhasihills.gov.in.

Press Release No. 991/20

PROHIBITORY ORDER

In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive measures and awareness, to identify and take more stringent steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of rigorous contact tracing, testing, quarantine, isolation and ensuring strict observance of protocols and advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 7th November, 2020 under Section 144 CrPC has prohibited in all of East Khasi Hills District any assembly or gathering without due permission, operation of unregulated major markets which have not obtained separate permission from the office of the District Magistrate, with effect from 7th November, 2020 upto 14th November, 2020 only for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM each day.

The order prohibits operation of all cinema halls, swimming pools, theatres, auditoriums and similar recreational places, all forms of contact sports, competitive sports events and spectators in sports grounds and stadia. However, permission for training etc., as per SOPs of Sports and Youth Affairs Department may be granted after due application to the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills and satisfaction of all conditions. The order also prohibited all forms of large public gathering and congregation including social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural, etc, without permission from the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills. The order also prohibits moving in public, work places and during transport without a mask, spitting and consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco, etc. in public places.

The general instruction of the order states that every individual to mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow without fail the various protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times. In addition, public must strictly comply without fail to the measures mandated for containment areas. Any individual or organisation seeking to organise any function, meeting, ceremony or event may apply to the Office of the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District subject to a ceiling limit of 50 attendees or one third the capacity of the hall or venue, whichever is less.

Religious places and places of worship of all faiths are permitted to re-open subject to compliance to the SOP laid down by the Government. Schools will be permitted to open for activities such as teacher-student counseling, clearing doubts, addressing hard spots, sharing unit, lesson plans, assignments, submission of works, students assessment programme etc., as per guidelines issued by the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya. For funeral and last rites related gatherings, the number of attendees must not exceed 50 or one-third the capacity, whichever is less. Wedding ceremonies will be allowed in compliance with SOP issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and the number of guests at home or reception shall not exceed one-third the seating capacity of the place of worship or hall 50, whichever is less.

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes. All residents of the District are to install Aarogya Setu Application and Behavioral Change Management App and to regularly update their health status on the apps for containment of COVID-19 pandemic. Private and public transport will operate in East Khasi Hills District as per the order issued by Transport Department, Government of Meghalaya. Movement of vehicles and other traffic arrangements will be prepared and regulated by the office of the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong. Inter-District movement of persons is permitted and Inter-State movement of persons will be strictly as per instructions of the Government of Meghalaya and all persons entering Meghalaya will have to mandatorily register for testing at http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/testing.htm and shall follow the testing and quarantine protocols issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya.

Press Release No. 992/20

CHIEF MINISTER LAYS FOUNDATION FOR NEW BUILDING OF RYMBAI GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL

Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K. Sangma today laid the foundation for the new building of Rymbai Government Secondary School in the presence of Education Minister, Shri Lahkmen Rymbui, Minister for Social Welfare, Shri Kyrmen Shylla and senior officials, in Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills District. During his address the Chief Minister stated that the government accords top priority to the education sector. Laying emphasis on the need to improve the educational facilities across the State the Chief Minister said that the government is on a mission mode to enhance the overall infrastructure in different schools and educational institutions across the state.

He further added that the government in its bid to improve the overall education scenario in the state, is focussing on both the hard component of enhancing educational infrastructure and well as on the soft component which concentrates on the welfare of students and teachers. The Chief Minister also informed that to provide economical support to children a decision to enhance the scholarship amount has also been taken by the Government.

While highlighting the importance of quality human capital in the overall progress and development of the state the Chief Minister said, ‘In the days to come we will be investing very aggressively not just in education, but we'll be investing in the youth of our state, education is one part of ensuring that our youth are pushed in the right direction and are skilled and trained in the right way. This government is working with a vision to ensure that we have a very strong young generation that will be able to contribute towards the growth of our state and our nation’. The Chief Minister also informed that the new building of the school will be completed by December 2022.

Education Minister, Shri Lahkmen Rymbui in his speech stated that the aim of the Government is to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the district and the state. He further said that the education sector in the state is in the transformation stage and being the top most priority, the government is very focused on improving education in the entire state for the betterment of the society and the state as a whole . “In order to transform education there are three important pillars to focus on that includes trained teachers, good school building and good policies”, he said adding that the result of the transformation will not reflect today but in the generations to come.