April 16, 2004

Shillong, April 16, 2004: With a view to maintain peace and tranquility during the ensuing 14 Lok Sabha Election, the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District has promulgated Section 144 Cr. PC in the whole District, prohibiting any person or group of persons from causing obstruction to the movement of people and vehicular traffic, carrying of arms of any description and other lethal weapons by members of the public with the exemption of security and paramilitary personnel on duty.

This order shall come into force with immediate effect.

Shillong, April 16, 2004: The Helpage India Join Hands campaign was launched today at the Raj Bhavan where the Governor of Meghalaya, Mr. M M Jacob was the Chief Guest. The objective of the campaign is to harness the time, energy and resources of people of all ages in improving the quality of life of needy aged persons.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Jacob thanked the organizers of the Campaign whose noble cause is to bring awareness among the people about various rehabilitation and care programmes for the aged and the needy. Saying that older persons should find a place in the society to enable them to contribute more effectively in their communities and in the development of their societies, he added that it is necessary to increase the care and support for elderly people. He said that poverty is a major problem for the aged and the Government of India has taken some steps to provide assistance in the form of grant-in-aid to old age homes run by voluntary organisations. Saying that attempts by Governments to ameliorate the condition of the aged are only marginal, he stressed on the importance of NGO’s such as Helpage in this context.

Mrs S Ghose, Regional Director, Help Age India also spoke on the occasion.

Shillong, April 16, 2004: The Excise staff of East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, in its active drive against illicit liquor detected 82 cases and made a seizure of 214.200 litres of i/d liquor and 25.080 litres IMFL during the month of March.

In this connection 73 persons were arrested under the Excise Act.