Villagers Lynch 3 Militants in Meghalaya

Shillong, Sep 19 : Three armed militants were killed on Saturday in a clash with villagers of Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.

A group of six Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF) militants threatened and fired at the villagers of Menadoba Bazaar, police said.

On hearing the gun shots, scores of villagers rushed to the spot and a major scuffle broke out when the militant attacked the civilians.

Three of the militants were killed on the spot during the clash, while the other militants managed to flee, Superintendent of Police S Nongtnger said.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and recovered two pistols and three magazines from the slain militants.

Last night, another LAEF militant, identified as Robin K Sangma, was arrested by the police from Dainadubi area of the district.

Read full history - Villagers Lynch 3 Militants in Meghalaya

Villagers Lynch 3 Militants in Meghalaya

Shillong, Sep 19 : Three armed militants were killed on Saturday in a clash with villagers of Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.

A group of six Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF) militants threatened and fired at the villagers of Menadoba Bazaar, police said.

On hearing the gun shots, scores of villagers rushed to the spot and a major scuffle broke out when the militant attacked the civilians.

Three of the militants were killed on the spot during the clash, while the other militants managed to flee, Superintendent of Police S Nongtnger said.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and recovered two pistols and three magazines from the slain militants.

Last night, another LAEF militant, identified as Robin K Sangma, was arrested by the police from Dainadubi area of the district.

Read full history - Villagers Lynch 3 Militants in Meghalaya

A Caver's Sojourn

By Shyam G Menon

Special Arrangement Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly: Passion for caves.

"It's like a spiritual quest," says Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly, founder-secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers Association, who has been responsible for bringing to light the richness of Meghalaya's caves.

His friends having backed off in fear; the boy from Shillong, on a picnic at Cherrapunji, gazed unhappily at the beckoning cave. Just then two local youngsters turned up offering to guide. The trio walked the entire length of the cave and exited through a small shaft to the other side. The boy finished schooling, graduated from the local college and became an employee of the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) in Karnataka.

Aching to be home, he first secured a transfer to Kolkata and, then, a relieving order. Back in Shillong, he became CEO of a local bank facing difficulty. Today the Shillong Co-operative Urban Bank is in good shape and Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly, 63, enjoys extended tenure. It may seem SBM again, but then Shillong is home.

Looking for adventure

In the early 1990s, when Brian scouted for adventure, he remembered Meghalaya's caves. He became founder-secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA). Shortly after they began exploration, a team of foreigners came looking for caves.

Since caves are sculpted on rock by water, tracking the worldwide distribution of suitable minerals helps locate cave-rich zones. Limestone is a fantastic cave-building medium. Deposits of soluble rock are called karst and, in rain-soaked Meghalaya, karst existed at the state's southern portion, in an east-west line. The British team included eminent cavers. The MAA tied up with them and joint expeditions to explore the caves of Meghalaya began in right earnest. 

The results amazed. Deep under Meghalaya were subterranean passages; rivers, ponds and vast chambers. Some 1200 caves have been reported, around 800 explored and roughly 360 kilometres of cave passages have been mapped, including India's longest cave: Krem Liat Prah-Um Im-Labit System estimated to be 31 kilometres. Meghalaya also has the country's deepest cave. In 2004, Brian was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Award for Adventure in the land category. The exploration is continuing and the Indian Army and the Navy have links with MAA for expeditions.

Caving isn't one activity but a convergence of many; there is the adventure, the science, the mapping, the planning, the skills and, finally, the philosophy and literature it inspires. Brian has authored articles on the subject including a book on Meghalaya's caves published by the state government. One of his essays was included as chapter for study in the state's Class XII syllabus. He has a novel coming up and he writes poetry.

Anxious moments

There were anxious moments. Once, Brian was injured by falling rock in a vertical shaft. Some caves don't have horizontal entrances; they have a shaft plunging into them. Shafts can be deep; India's deepest at Krem Shrieh in Meghalaya is 97 metres (320 feet), several times longer than a single rope length and therefore requiring ‘pitches' as in rock climbing. Lowering yourself can be tricky because shafts typically have narrow mouth and wider bottom. A rope anchored at the top progressively stays off the side leaving the abseiling caver dangling on rope in a growing void. On another occasion, in a cave with multiple entrances, cavers entering through different passages met at a point. There, an experienced woman caver decided she wasn't feeling well and retraced her steps. Somewhere she got lost in the labyrinth of passage ways. Her absence was noticed only after everyone had exited. After several hours, she was located sitting crouched to preserve body heat. Her headlamp was broken; the consequence of a fall. “Hypothermia is a real danger in caves,” Brian said. 

While the lay individual may presume that cavers go in leaving physical traces to identify the trail back, that isn't always the case. “I advise people to periodically look back and remember cave features for navigation because entry and exit points in subterranean chambers appear different when the direction changes,” Brian said. It is also important to never break team (there may be several independent teams exploring different parts of a cave, but each team should stick together) and systematically map the passage so that the data for navigation is available right there. A typical cave survey kit would have nyloflex tape measure, compass, clinometer (for measuring gradient), plastic-coated cave survey book, pencil and GPS. Back at camp, a day's survey data is processed with specialised software to generate a detailed map. This work has now been rendered easier by the Disto-X, a device that measures distance, direction and inclination at one stroke. It can be linked to the cartographer's PDA inside the cave itself, to make a detailed map. Interestingly, the cave explorer's credo is not to retreat but proceed with the faith that several entrances and exits exist. For Brian, it is like a spiritual quest. A vast underground chamber glistening with cave pearls (sand particles covered in calcium carbonate) is like an audience with God.

Besides his passion for caves, Brian makes one of the best homemade wines in Shillong. Interestingly, here too, he learned the ropes late, worked systematically at improving his craft and took the art to a superior level. That cave in Cherrapunji was long ago. But it seems to have shaped his attitude: a curiosity; a journey, a perfection.

The author is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Read full history - A Caver's Sojourn

A Caver's Sojourn

By Shyam G Menon

Special Arrangement Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly: Passion for caves.

"It's like a spiritual quest," says Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly, founder-secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers Association, who has been responsible for bringing to light the richness of Meghalaya's caves.

His friends having backed off in fear; the boy from Shillong, on a picnic at Cherrapunji, gazed unhappily at the beckoning cave. Just then two local youngsters turned up offering to guide. The trio walked the entire length of the cave and exited through a small shaft to the other side. The boy finished schooling, graduated from the local college and became an employee of the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) in Karnataka.

Aching to be home, he first secured a transfer to Kolkata and, then, a relieving order. Back in Shillong, he became CEO of a local bank facing difficulty. Today the Shillong Co-operative Urban Bank is in good shape and Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly, 63, enjoys extended tenure. It may seem SBM again, but then Shillong is home.

Looking for adventure

In the early 1990s, when Brian scouted for adventure, he remembered Meghalaya's caves. He became founder-secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA). Shortly after they began exploration, a team of foreigners came looking for caves.

Since caves are sculpted on rock by water, tracking the worldwide distribution of suitable minerals helps locate cave-rich zones. Limestone is a fantastic cave-building medium. Deposits of soluble rock are called karst and, in rain-soaked Meghalaya, karst existed at the state's southern portion, in an east-west line. The British team included eminent cavers. The MAA tied up with them and joint expeditions to explore the caves of Meghalaya began in right earnest. 

The results amazed. Deep under Meghalaya were subterranean passages; rivers, ponds and vast chambers. Some 1200 caves have been reported, around 800 explored and roughly 360 kilometres of cave passages have been mapped, including India's longest cave: Krem Liat Prah-Um Im-Labit System estimated to be 31 kilometres. Meghalaya also has the country's deepest cave. In 2004, Brian was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Award for Adventure in the land category. The exploration is continuing and the Indian Army and the Navy have links with MAA for expeditions.

Caving isn't one activity but a convergence of many; there is the adventure, the science, the mapping, the planning, the skills and, finally, the philosophy and literature it inspires. Brian has authored articles on the subject including a book on Meghalaya's caves published by the state government. One of his essays was included as chapter for study in the state's Class XII syllabus. He has a novel coming up and he writes poetry.

Anxious moments

There were anxious moments. Once, Brian was injured by falling rock in a vertical shaft. Some caves don't have horizontal entrances; they have a shaft plunging into them. Shafts can be deep; India's deepest at Krem Shrieh in Meghalaya is 97 metres (320 feet), several times longer than a single rope length and therefore requiring ‘pitches' as in rock climbing. Lowering yourself can be tricky because shafts typically have narrow mouth and wider bottom. A rope anchored at the top progressively stays off the side leaving the abseiling caver dangling on rope in a growing void. On another occasion, in a cave with multiple entrances, cavers entering through different passages met at a point. There, an experienced woman caver decided she wasn't feeling well and retraced her steps. Somewhere she got lost in the labyrinth of passage ways. Her absence was noticed only after everyone had exited. After several hours, she was located sitting crouched to preserve body heat. Her headlamp was broken; the consequence of a fall. “Hypothermia is a real danger in caves,” Brian said. 

While the lay individual may presume that cavers go in leaving physical traces to identify the trail back, that isn't always the case. “I advise people to periodically look back and remember cave features for navigation because entry and exit points in subterranean chambers appear different when the direction changes,” Brian said. It is also important to never break team (there may be several independent teams exploring different parts of a cave, but each team should stick together) and systematically map the passage so that the data for navigation is available right there. A typical cave survey kit would have nyloflex tape measure, compass, clinometer (for measuring gradient), plastic-coated cave survey book, pencil and GPS. Back at camp, a day's survey data is processed with specialised software to generate a detailed map. This work has now been rendered easier by the Disto-X, a device that measures distance, direction and inclination at one stroke. It can be linked to the cartographer's PDA inside the cave itself, to make a detailed map. Interestingly, the cave explorer's credo is not to retreat but proceed with the faith that several entrances and exits exist. For Brian, it is like a spiritual quest. A vast underground chamber glistening with cave pearls (sand particles covered in calcium carbonate) is like an audience with God.

Besides his passion for caves, Brian makes one of the best homemade wines in Shillong. Interestingly, here too, he learned the ropes late, worked systematically at improving his craft and took the art to a superior level. That cave in Cherrapunji was long ago. But it seems to have shaped his attitude: a curiosity; a journey, a perfection.

The author is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Read full history - A Caver's Sojourn

Meghalaya: Mother Unable to Repay Loan, Children Confiscated

Shillong, Sep 18 : Police today nabbed a woman who confiscated two kids after their parent was unable to repay loan amount. The incident took place at the suburban regions of Shillong in Meghalaya.

Few months ago, the debtor Meryline Gatpoh borrowed over Rs. 3 lacs from Rosa Mawrie, a woman who lives in that area. Rosa asked Meryline to repay the sum along with the interest, the rate of which was set to 20 percent.

Meryline managed to repay Rs 1 lakh but was unable to arrange the remaining sum of money. Rosa first seized Meryline's vehicle in lieu of the sum that was not repaid to her. But this didn't satisfy her demands. On Sep 8, she took away Meryline's minor daughter and later on Sep 15, she confiscated Rosa’s son.

Unable to tolerate any more, Meryline lodged a complaint at the nearest police station on Thursday night against Rosa Mawrie for confiscating her kids along with her vehicle illegally. The kids were rescued by the police today and were handed over to Rosa.

Read full history - Meghalaya: Mother Unable to Repay Loan, Children Confiscated

Meghalaya: Mother Unable to Repay Loan, Children Confiscated

Shillong, Sep 18 : Police today nabbed a woman who confiscated two kids after their parent was unable to repay loan amount. The incident took place at the suburban regions of Shillong in Meghalaya.

Few months ago, the debtor Meryline Gatpoh borrowed over Rs. 3 lacs from Rosa Mawrie, a woman who lives in that area. Rosa asked Meryline to repay the sum along with the interest, the rate of which was set to 20 percent.

Meryline managed to repay Rs 1 lakh but was unable to arrange the remaining sum of money. Rosa first seized Meryline's vehicle in lieu of the sum that was not repaid to her. But this didn't satisfy her demands. On Sep 8, she took away Meryline's minor daughter and later on Sep 15, she confiscated Rosa’s son.

Unable to tolerate any more, Meryline lodged a complaint at the nearest police station on Thursday night against Rosa Mawrie for confiscating her kids along with her vehicle illegally. The kids were rescued by the police today and were handed over to Rosa.

Read full history - Meghalaya: Mother Unable to Repay Loan, Children Confiscated

Meghalaya Lobby Opposes FDI in Coal Mining

By Supratim Dey

Shillong, Sep 16 : The coal mining lobby in Meghalaya, consisting coal miners and coal mine owners, has opposed foreign investment in coal mining sector in the state.

Voicing concern at a stakeholders’ meet, convened by the state government to formulate a mining policy, the coal miners and owners cautioned the state government that "heavy foreign investment will not be in the interests of local populace".

The state government plans to come up with a mining policy by next month to "systemise" mining activities in the state and to address the health, environment and labour issues. The decision came in the wake of concerns expressed by environmentalists who apprehend land degrade and forest cover depletion owing to the unscientific and indiscriminate mining.

Mining and geology minister of Meghalaya Bindu Lanong said,  "They (local miners) wanted the government to take care of small miners and their suggestions will be considered while preparing the mining policy."

"Amendments will be made in the draft to ensure that the interests of the locals are protected," Lanong said.

According to him, the proposed mining policy will "ensure that the mining mechanism is systematised and inclusive of advanced technology; that is environment and health friendly." The miners’ lobby also suggested the government not to "sidetrack" the land tenure system prevailing in the state where the coal mines are owned by private individuals.

Mining of mineral resources in Meghalaya, which is rich in coal, limestone and uranium, had always hit one or the other roadblock.

Meghalaya has over 600 million tonne of coal reserves, and around 5 million tonne are mined annually.

Meghalaya is the only state in the country where coal miners don’t need any mining lease from the government. Any individual owning coal-bearing land can extract coal and sell it in the market.

Read full history - Meghalaya Lobby Opposes FDI in Coal Mining

Meghalaya Lobby Opposes FDI in Coal Mining

By Supratim Dey

Shillong, Sep 16 : The coal mining lobby in Meghalaya, consisting coal miners and coal mine owners, has opposed foreign investment in coal mining sector in the state.

Voicing concern at a stakeholders’ meet, convened by the state government to formulate a mining policy, the coal miners and owners cautioned the state government that "heavy foreign investment will not be in the interests of local populace".

The state government plans to come up with a mining policy by next month to "systemise" mining activities in the state and to address the health, environment and labour issues. The decision came in the wake of concerns expressed by environmentalists who apprehend land degrade and forest cover depletion owing to the unscientific and indiscriminate mining.

Mining and geology minister of Meghalaya Bindu Lanong said,  "They (local miners) wanted the government to take care of small miners and their suggestions will be considered while preparing the mining policy."

"Amendments will be made in the draft to ensure that the interests of the locals are protected," Lanong said.

According to him, the proposed mining policy will "ensure that the mining mechanism is systematised and inclusive of advanced technology; that is environment and health friendly." The miners’ lobby also suggested the government not to "sidetrack" the land tenure system prevailing in the state where the coal mines are owned by private individuals.

Mining of mineral resources in Meghalaya, which is rich in coal, limestone and uranium, had always hit one or the other roadblock.

Meghalaya has over 600 million tonne of coal reserves, and around 5 million tonne are mined annually.

Meghalaya is the only state in the country where coal miners don’t need any mining lease from the government. Any individual owning coal-bearing land can extract coal and sell it in the market.

Read full history - Meghalaya Lobby Opposes FDI in Coal Mining

Municipal Polls: Half of Meghalaya Shutdown

Shillong, Sep 15 : Half of Meghalaya today observed a shutdown following a non-cooperation call by a group of organisations protesting the proposed first ever municipal elections, even as 205 candidates filed nominations in the four municipal boards where elections are slated for September 29.

Educational institutions, business units and government offices were closed and vehicular movement was thin in all the three districts of Garo Hills, officials said adding adequate security personnel were deployed at sensitive places to prevent any untoward incident.

While no picketing activities were observed, West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said the administration has decided salary cut for government officials who did not report for duty.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) had announced a two-day non-cooperation movement in the three districts from today against holding of the elections in the four municipalities of Garo Hills.

The JAC is demanding demarcation of the municipal areas before conducting elections.
Altogether 96 candidates, including 27 women, have filed nominations in the 13 wards of Tura municipality in West Garo Hills district.

55 candidates have filed nominations for the Resubelpara and Williamnagar municipalities and 54 for the Baghmara seat. The last date for filing nominations ended yesterday.

Urban Affairs Principal Secretary Prashant Naik ruled out postponing the municipal elections.
"We don''t understand why they are opposing the elections. They should wait for the court verdict instead of announcing any agitation," he said.

The proscribed Khasi militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had warned people of dire consequences if they participated in the elections.

Earlier, the Gauhati High Court had issued a notice to the government on a petition by the Garo Students Union which challenged the municipal polls.

Since the Supreme Court notification in 2000, there have been at least two attempts to hold the civic body election in the state but both the times the government could not go ahead due to opposition from certain quarters on the ground that such an attempt will dilute the credibility of traditional institutions in the state.

There nominated administrator of the state government governs the municipality boards.

Read full history - Municipal Polls: Half of Meghalaya Shutdown

Municipal Polls: Half of Meghalaya Shutdown

Shillong, Sep 15 : Half of Meghalaya today observed a shutdown following a non-cooperation call by a group of organisations protesting the proposed first ever municipal elections, even as 205 candidates filed nominations in the four municipal boards where elections are slated for September 29.

Educational institutions, business units and government offices were closed and vehicular movement was thin in all the three districts of Garo Hills, officials said adding adequate security personnel were deployed at sensitive places to prevent any untoward incident.

While no picketing activities were observed, West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said the administration has decided salary cut for government officials who did not report for duty.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) had announced a two-day non-cooperation movement in the three districts from today against holding of the elections in the four municipalities of Garo Hills.

The JAC is demanding demarcation of the municipal areas before conducting elections.
Altogether 96 candidates, including 27 women, have filed nominations in the 13 wards of Tura municipality in West Garo Hills district.

55 candidates have filed nominations for the Resubelpara and Williamnagar municipalities and 54 for the Baghmara seat. The last date for filing nominations ended yesterday.

Urban Affairs Principal Secretary Prashant Naik ruled out postponing the municipal elections.
"We don''t understand why they are opposing the elections. They should wait for the court verdict instead of announcing any agitation," he said.

The proscribed Khasi militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had warned people of dire consequences if they participated in the elections.

Earlier, the Gauhati High Court had issued a notice to the government on a petition by the Garo Students Union which challenged the municipal polls.

Since the Supreme Court notification in 2000, there have been at least two attempts to hold the civic body election in the state but both the times the government could not go ahead due to opposition from certain quarters on the ground that such an attempt will dilute the credibility of traditional institutions in the state.

There nominated administrator of the state government governs the municipality boards.

Read full history - Municipal Polls: Half of Meghalaya Shutdown

Meghalaya CM Meets PM For Bangladesh Trade

Shillong, Sep 15 : Meghalaya Chief minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to facilitate trade with Bangladesh.

"This would be beneficial for both the countries and would help to reduce illegal activities along the international border," Sangma told over phone from New Delhi.

"I told the prime minister that trading activities should be promoted and infrastructure should be improved in the border ares," he said.

Sangma requested the prime minister to take up on a priority basis the proposed railway connectivity between Jogighopa via Tikrikilla, Ampati, Dalu, Baghmara, Dawki and Badarpur through the southern slope of Meghalaya, which would in turn connect the LCSs to Barak Valley and other North Eastern States including Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur in view of huge economic benefit and expected growth of trade and commerce with Bangladesh.

"The alternative railway line is also a shorter option which had taken up with the railway ministry in 2007," Sangma said.Sangma took up issues relating to various pending projects of the Centre including the expansion of airports in Umroi and Baljek on a priority basis to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft.

"I submitted a proposal to Union finance ministry for State Resource Management Programme to be funded by ADB to support health and education in the state," Sangma said.

Read full history - Meghalaya CM Meets PM For Bangladesh Trade

Meghalaya CM Meets PM For Bangladesh Trade

Shillong, Sep 15 : Meghalaya Chief minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to facilitate trade with Bangladesh.

"This would be beneficial for both the countries and would help to reduce illegal activities along the international border," Sangma told over phone from New Delhi.

"I told the prime minister that trading activities should be promoted and infrastructure should be improved in the border ares," he said.

Sangma requested the prime minister to take up on a priority basis the proposed railway connectivity between Jogighopa via Tikrikilla, Ampati, Dalu, Baghmara, Dawki and Badarpur through the southern slope of Meghalaya, which would in turn connect the LCSs to Barak Valley and other North Eastern States including Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur in view of huge economic benefit and expected growth of trade and commerce with Bangladesh.

"The alternative railway line is also a shorter option which had taken up with the railway ministry in 2007," Sangma said.Sangma took up issues relating to various pending projects of the Centre including the expansion of airports in Umroi and Baljek on a priority basis to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft.

"I submitted a proposal to Union finance ministry for State Resource Management Programme to be funded by ADB to support health and education in the state," Sangma said.

Read full history - Meghalaya CM Meets PM For Bangladesh Trade

222 Child Miners in Meghalaya: Govt

Guwahati, Sep 8 : Under pressure from the National Human Rights Commission, the Jaintia Hills district authorities in Meghalaya have found 222 children working in unscientific coal mines. The figure is way short of 70,000 child labourers a Meghalaya-based NGO had claimed were working in the hill state's coal mines

often referred to as "rat holes" for unscientific and life-threatening methods employed to extract coal.

"In a district inhabited by barely 2 lakh people, it is impossible for 70,000 children to work in coal mines here," said a senior district official from headquarters Jowai.

Of the 222 children identified, 153 were found to belong to local communities. The rest had come with their parents from Assam, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Rat-hole mining - workers go down at least 25m to extract coal with hands and primitive tools - is prevalent in Lad Sutnga, Bapung, Lad Rymbai and Khliehriat areas of Jaintia Hills. Similar technique is used in mines in Shallang, Langrin and Borsora areas of West Khasi Hills district and Nangalbibra of South Garo Hills district.

"We have convened a high-level meeting in the next few days to discuss ways of rehabilitating the child miners," said Arindam Som, Meghalaya's commissioner-secretary of mining and geology.

NHRC had on August 13 asked the Meghalaya government to work on a package to help children working under hazardous conditions in coal mines.

But a rehab plan for the children is easier said than done as locals engage in mining according to their traditional land tenure system wherein the people own the mines, not the government.

Owing to this "technical problem", Meghalaya's mines are classified as cottage or small-scale mines not covered under the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act.

Read full history - 222 Child Miners in Meghalaya: Govt

222 Child Miners in Meghalaya: Govt

Guwahati, Sep 8 : Under pressure from the National Human Rights Commission, the Jaintia Hills district authorities in Meghalaya have found 222 children working in unscientific coal mines. The figure is way short of 70,000 child labourers a Meghalaya-based NGO had claimed were working in the hill state's coal mines

often referred to as "rat holes" for unscientific and life-threatening methods employed to extract coal.

"In a district inhabited by barely 2 lakh people, it is impossible for 70,000 children to work in coal mines here," said a senior district official from headquarters Jowai.

Of the 222 children identified, 153 were found to belong to local communities. The rest had come with their parents from Assam, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Rat-hole mining - workers go down at least 25m to extract coal with hands and primitive tools - is prevalent in Lad Sutnga, Bapung, Lad Rymbai and Khliehriat areas of Jaintia Hills. Similar technique is used in mines in Shallang, Langrin and Borsora areas of West Khasi Hills district and Nangalbibra of South Garo Hills district.

"We have convened a high-level meeting in the next few days to discuss ways of rehabilitating the child miners," said Arindam Som, Meghalaya's commissioner-secretary of mining and geology.

NHRC had on August 13 asked the Meghalaya government to work on a package to help children working under hazardous conditions in coal mines.

But a rehab plan for the children is easier said than done as locals engage in mining according to their traditional land tenure system wherein the people own the mines, not the government.

Owing to this "technical problem", Meghalaya's mines are classified as cottage or small-scale mines not covered under the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act.

Read full history - 222 Child Miners in Meghalaya: Govt

Meghalaya Refuses to Renew Mining Lease to Coal India

New Delhi, Sep 8 : Meghalaya has refused to renew a mining lease to the Coal India Limited, leaving the government-run mining enterprise without any work in the state, the coal ministry said Tuesday.

“In Meghalaya, the only lease held by North Eastern Coalfields Limited (NEC) NEC, a CIL subsidiary, pertained to Simsang mines. But it expired in 2008 and its renewal is yet to be received from the State of Meghalaya,” said the ministry in a statement.

“In the absence of renewal of lease, at present no more mines has been planned to be opened by NEC, CIL,” the statement added.

“In Meghalaya, coal is being produced only by the local people as per the extant customary and tribal land rights,” it said.

The ministry made the revelation of Meghalaya’s refusal to renew its mining lease to CIL in a statement on total coal resources in the northeast region.

The statement said “as per Geological Survey of India’s latest inventory of the geological resources of coal in the country, 1,471 million tonnes of geological resources of coal have so far been estimated in the northeast region.”

“Of this, 388 million tonnes are in Assam and 576 milliion tonnes in Meghalaya,” the statement said, adding: “In Assam three opencast mines - Tirap, Tikak and Ledo are in operation under NEC.”

Five more new open cast mines, including those in Lekhapani, Tikak Extension, Tipong, PQ Block and Lachitkhani are proposed to be opened,” the statement added.

Read full history - Meghalaya Refuses to Renew Mining Lease to Coal India

Meghalaya Refuses to Renew Mining Lease to Coal India

New Delhi, Sep 8 : Meghalaya has refused to renew a mining lease to the Coal India Limited, leaving the government-run mining enterprise without any work in the state, the coal ministry said Tuesday.

“In Meghalaya, the only lease held by North Eastern Coalfields Limited (NEC) NEC, a CIL subsidiary, pertained to Simsang mines. But it expired in 2008 and its renewal is yet to be received from the State of Meghalaya,” said the ministry in a statement.

“In the absence of renewal of lease, at present no more mines has been planned to be opened by NEC, CIL,” the statement added.

“In Meghalaya, coal is being produced only by the local people as per the extant customary and tribal land rights,” it said.

The ministry made the revelation of Meghalaya’s refusal to renew its mining lease to CIL in a statement on total coal resources in the northeast region.

The statement said “as per Geological Survey of India’s latest inventory of the geological resources of coal in the country, 1,471 million tonnes of geological resources of coal have so far been estimated in the northeast region.”

“Of this, 388 million tonnes are in Assam and 576 milliion tonnes in Meghalaya,” the statement said, adding: “In Assam three opencast mines - Tirap, Tikak and Ledo are in operation under NEC.”

Five more new open cast mines, including those in Lekhapani, Tikak Extension, Tipong, PQ Block and Lachitkhani are proposed to be opened,” the statement added.

Read full history - Meghalaya Refuses to Renew Mining Lease to Coal India

Meghalaya Plans Rehab of Child Miners

By E.M. Jose

Children work at coal mines in Jaintia Hills.

Shillong, Sep 6 : The Meghalaya government is working on a rehabilitation package to help the children working under hazardous situations in the coal mines of Jaintia Hills, following a direction from the National Human Rights Commission.

The state commissioner and secretary of mining and geology, Arindam Som, today said following the commission’s direction on August 13, a high-level meeting will be held next week to be convened by chief secretary W.M.S. Pariat to discuss the modalities to rehabilitate the children who work in the mines.

The commission has given three months’ time to the state government to find out ways and means to rehabilitate the children.

“We have to co-ordinate with the departments of education, police, social welfare and the district administration to find a viable package for the children,” Som said.

According to reports, coal mining in Meghalaya popularly known as “rat hole mining” has changed the ecology and landscape of the hill state, besides affecting the health of the migrant children and their parents working in the mines.

Some experts, who studied the coal mining activities in the state, have coined “rat hole mining” as the miners adopt unscientific methods.

Since the coal layers or seams are thin ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet, the miners either use hands or traditional tools to extract coal.

A minimum of 25metres is dug to extract coal. The labou-rers, including children, have to walk down through wooden steps to remove coal. If the fuel is exhausted in a pit, they look for coal in other areas.

Children, mostly from Nepal and Bangladesh, are working in these Jaintia Hills mines with their parents.

The Jaintia Hills district administration conducted a survey in 20 villages in July this year and found that there are 222 children working in the coal mines.

While 153 were local residents, the remaining were from Assam, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

According to the district administration, the survey was carried out after a Shillong-based NGO had brought out that 70,000 children work in the coal mines.

Sources in the district administration said the population of Jaintia Hills is just over 2 lakh and it is impossible for 70,000 children to work in the coal mines.

“Our priority will be to rehabilitate these 222 children,” an official with the state social welfare department said.

Other than Lad Sutnga, Bapung, Lad Rymbai and Khliehriat areas in Jaintia Hills, rat hole mining is also carried out at Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills and Shallang, Langrin and Borsora in West Khasi Hills.

The local indigenous population engages in traditional method of mining according to their land tenure system where the ownership of the mines is with the people and not with the government.

Because of this, the Union government named the mines here as local cottage mines or small-scale coal mines, which operate beyond the purview of Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act.

The government has framed a draft mining policy to check the present system of unscientific coal mining. According to the policy, there are a series of measures initiated by the government for scientific mining.

The draft mining policy points out that there is an urgent need to see that the environment is protected while initiating various mining activities.

Read full history - Meghalaya Plans Rehab of Child Miners

Meghalaya Plans Rehab of Child Miners

By E.M. Jose

Children work at coal mines in Jaintia Hills.

Shillong, Sep 6 : The Meghalaya government is working on a rehabilitation package to help the children working under hazardous situations in the coal mines of Jaintia Hills, following a direction from the National Human Rights Commission.

The state commissioner and secretary of mining and geology, Arindam Som, today said following the commission’s direction on August 13, a high-level meeting will be held next week to be convened by chief secretary W.M.S. Pariat to discuss the modalities to rehabilitate the children who work in the mines.

The commission has given three months’ time to the state government to find out ways and means to rehabilitate the children.

“We have to co-ordinate with the departments of education, police, social welfare and the district administration to find a viable package for the children,” Som said.

According to reports, coal mining in Meghalaya popularly known as “rat hole mining” has changed the ecology and landscape of the hill state, besides affecting the health of the migrant children and their parents working in the mines.

Some experts, who studied the coal mining activities in the state, have coined “rat hole mining” as the miners adopt unscientific methods.

Since the coal layers or seams are thin ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet, the miners either use hands or traditional tools to extract coal.

A minimum of 25metres is dug to extract coal. The labou-rers, including children, have to walk down through wooden steps to remove coal. If the fuel is exhausted in a pit, they look for coal in other areas.

Children, mostly from Nepal and Bangladesh, are working in these Jaintia Hills mines with their parents.

The Jaintia Hills district administration conducted a survey in 20 villages in July this year and found that there are 222 children working in the coal mines.

While 153 were local residents, the remaining were from Assam, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

According to the district administration, the survey was carried out after a Shillong-based NGO had brought out that 70,000 children work in the coal mines.

Sources in the district administration said the population of Jaintia Hills is just over 2 lakh and it is impossible for 70,000 children to work in the coal mines.

“Our priority will be to rehabilitate these 222 children,” an official with the state social welfare department said.

Other than Lad Sutnga, Bapung, Lad Rymbai and Khliehriat areas in Jaintia Hills, rat hole mining is also carried out at Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills and Shallang, Langrin and Borsora in West Khasi Hills.

The local indigenous population engages in traditional method of mining according to their land tenure system where the ownership of the mines is with the people and not with the government.

Because of this, the Union government named the mines here as local cottage mines or small-scale coal mines, which operate beyond the purview of Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act.

The government has framed a draft mining policy to check the present system of unscientific coal mining. According to the policy, there are a series of measures initiated by the government for scientific mining.

The draft mining policy points out that there is an urgent need to see that the environment is protected while initiating various mining activities.

Read full history - Meghalaya Plans Rehab of Child Miners

Rogue Meghalaya Cop Dismissed

Shillong, Sep 5 : Champion R. Sangma, a Meghalaya police officer-turned-militant who floated the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), has been sacked, an official said Saturday.
“The government has terminated Champion’s service. He is no longer a policeman and is a free-bird now,” Director General of Police S.B. Kakati told IANS.

He said the order terminating services of Champion, a deputy superintendent of police, was notfified by the government about 15 days ago.

Champion floated the GNLA in 2008 and fled to forests.

Kakati said Champion was an indisciplined officer and his dismissal was sought on several instances.

“He (Champion) never attended work and remained absent for months, therefore, his post was never made permanent and his dismissal was sought after a departmental inquiry into his conduct,” the police chief added.

Champion, whose militant organisation is demanding sovereign Garoland in west Meghalaya, has forged a close operational relationship with other northeast-based insurgent groups such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

The GNLA’s foot soldiers are deserters, mostly from the NDFB, the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and the Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF).

According to police, the GNLA is reported to have made extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore from legislators, government officials and businessmen.

Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hills region, is being used as a safe haven by various northeast-based militant groups, including the NSCN-IM, the ULFA and a faction of the NDFB, state police say.

Read full history - Rogue Meghalaya Cop Dismissed

Rogue Meghalaya Cop Dismissed

Shillong, Sep 5 : Champion R. Sangma, a Meghalaya police officer-turned-militant who floated the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), has been sacked, an official said Saturday.
“The government has terminated Champion’s service. He is no longer a policeman and is a free-bird now,” Director General of Police S.B. Kakati told IANS.

He said the order terminating services of Champion, a deputy superintendent of police, was notfified by the government about 15 days ago.

Champion floated the GNLA in 2008 and fled to forests.

Kakati said Champion was an indisciplined officer and his dismissal was sought on several instances.

“He (Champion) never attended work and remained absent for months, therefore, his post was never made permanent and his dismissal was sought after a departmental inquiry into his conduct,” the police chief added.

Champion, whose militant organisation is demanding sovereign Garoland in west Meghalaya, has forged a close operational relationship with other northeast-based insurgent groups such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

The GNLA’s foot soldiers are deserters, mostly from the NDFB, the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and the Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF).

According to police, the GNLA is reported to have made extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore from legislators, government officials and businessmen.

Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hills region, is being used as a safe haven by various northeast-based militant groups, including the NSCN-IM, the ULFA and a faction of the NDFB, state police say.

Read full history - Rogue Meghalaya Cop Dismissed