News Analysis India

Tag: Meghalaya government

  • Meghalaya environment minister to get PETA award for ‘vegan leather’ initiative

    By PTI

    SHILLONG: PETA India has decided to confer on Meghalaya Environment Minister James P K Sangma the Progressive Business Concept Award for his plans to produce ‘vegan leather’ in the northeastern state, officials said on Wednesday.

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) volunteers in Meghalaya will soon hand over the award to the minister, they said.

    Sangma had recently announced in Hyderabad that the Meghalaya government plans to produce leather using pineapples found abundantly in the hilly state.

    He had said the administration is also planning to open a climate change museum and introduce the subject in school curricula.

    “In recognition of his plans to help local farmers by encouraging vegan pineapple-leather production — a move that will also protect animals and the environment, PETA India has decided to confer upon him the Progressive Business Concept Award,” PETA India Senior Campaigns Coordinator Radhika Suryavanshi said.

    The minister has rightly identified the climate crisis as a “defining challenge of our times” and he’s already taking steps to address one of the biggest culprits — animal agriculture, she said.

    “PETA India looks forward to seeing Meghalaya create new opportunities for farmers while helping save the planet and animals’ lives through a thriving pineapple-leather industry,” the PETA office-bearer said.

    PETA believes that animal agriculture — which includes animals slaughter for clothing — is responsible for nearly a fifth of human-induced greenhouse-gas emissions and this was also corroborated by the United Nations, Suryavanshi said.

    “To keep the skins of cows, buffaloes, and other animals used for leather from rotting, tanneries use a variety of caustic, toxic chemicals, which pollute waterways. One of the most widely used chemicals in the tanning process is chromium, which can cause cancer in workers exposed to it,” she added.

    The export of footwear, leather and leather products from India in 2020-21 was to the tune of USD 3.68 billion.

  • Will take up with Union Home minister ‘unjust’ move to ‘evict’ Sikhs living in Shillong: Punjab Dy CM

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sunday said he will take up with the Union Home Minister Meghalaya government’s alleged move to “evict” Sikhs living in Shillong.

    Days after the Meghalaya cabinet approved a proposal to relocate “illegal settlers” from the Them Iew Mawlong area in Shillong, the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), which represents members of the Sikh community there, has said it will “fight tooth and nail” to stop the government from carrying out the drive.

    The Meghalaya state cabinet took the decision earlier this week, based on a recommendation made by a high-level committee (HLC) headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.

    Randhawa, according to an official statement, said he opposes the decision of the Meghalaya government “to evict the Sikhs living in Shillong” and has decided to take up the matter with the Union Home minister and Meghalaya chief minister.

    Two years ago, a Punjab government delegation led by Randhawa had visited Shillong and met members of the Sikh community living there and had assured them at that time too that he would vociferously oppose any move against their displacement.

    Randhawa vehemently opposed the Meghalaya government’s latest move, saying it was totally unjust to evict the Sikhs.

    The deputy chief minister said the Sikhs have been living in Shillong for decades and the Punjab government strongly opposes this decision to displace them.

    He said the civil rights of these Sikhs who have been living in Shillong for more than 200 years would not be allowed to be trampled upon at any cost.

    Randhawa alleged that the BJP-led NDA government has failed to create a sense of security and confidence among minorities across the country “who are feeling insecure, the latest examples of which can be seen in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh”.

    HPC secretary Gurjit Singh on Saturday that the organisation, which represents the interests of hundreds of Dalit Sikh families living in Them Iew Mawlong area or Punjabi lane for the past many years, has rejected the report of the high-level committee.

    Singh had also said his organisation has vowed to “fight tooth and nail for the rights of people residing in the area till their last breath”.

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  • Meghalaya bans public celebrations of Holi amid rising COVID cases

    By ANI
    SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government on Thursday issued a new Standard operating procedure (SOP) for Holi celebrations amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases wherein it banned public celebrations of the festival.

    “SOP for Holi celebrations issued by the Home (Political) Department, Government of Meghalaya. 25th March 2021,” the Department of Information and Public Relations of the state tweeted.

    “Person above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home. Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of five feet in public places, use of face-masks is mandatory along with proper hand sanitisation, social distancing,” the order read.

    The installation and the use of the Aarogya Setu app is also mandatory.

    “Public celebrations and gatherings/congregations are not permitted in public places/ public grounds/public parks/markets/religious places. Playing with colours should be restricted to family members only and within people’s homes. Playing of colours and/or congregations shall not be allowed on the public road or roadside and there shall be no obstruction on any path/roads/thoroughfare. In case of private celebrations, the number of persons inside the venue/private premises shall be restricted in accordance with the order issued by Home (Political) Department dated February 2, wherein the maximum number of persons in any private gathering is restricted to 75 per cent of the seating capacity,” the order continued to read.

    It also stated that legal action will be taken against violators as per the relevant laws. Persons with a history of inter-state travel should strictly follow the latest COVID-19 protocol, the new SOP states.

  • Meghalaya government to reduce tax on petrol, diesel by Rs 2 per litre: CM Conrad K Sangma

    The Meghalaya government has decided to reduce the tax on petrol and diesel in the state by Rs 2 per litre from Monday midnight.