State remembers Rev Nichols Roy
By Our Reporter
Shillong: KHADC paid tribute to Rev James Joy Mohan Nichols Roy (1884-1959), the architect of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, on his 51st death anniversary here on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion KHADC CEM Pyngshngain N Syiem said, “Rev Joy was instrumental in the making of autonomous district councils for the hill areas of the then Assam, and incorporating it in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.”
“His (late Rev Joy) main objective in setting up this unique council was the empowerment of indigenous people of the State and the region as a whole,” Syiem said.
Meanwhile, KHADC chairman Fabian Lyngdoh said that the great leader fought for the preservation of culture and tradition of the tribal communities and would always be remembered for his contribution to the political solidarity of the Khasi- Jaiñtia community.
“The Sixth Schedule would not have come into being if it was not for his efforts,” Lyngdoh said.
It may be recalled that the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, had even stayed a day with Roy at his Qualapatty residence in Shillong before finalising the Constitution.
Roy was also a colleague of BR Ambedkar, the chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
Rev Roy, popularly known as Bah Joy, was born in Shella on June 12, 1884 and was the grandnephew of Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing.
Coal mining to blame for water scarcity: Pariat
Shillong: Despite heavy rainfall, Meghalaya continued to face water scarcity as most of the rain water flowed to the plains of Bangladesh, a top official said here on Monday.
“The state receives plenty of rainfall but the water flows to the plains of Bangladesh. As the flow cannot be contained, Meghalaya continues to face the problem of water scarcity,” Chief Secretary W M S Pariat said.
Pariat, who was addressing a regional workshop on ‘Integrated Water Resource Management’ organised by Central Ground Water Board and Central Ground Water Authority of North Eastern Region, said the problem of water scarcity was also due to unscientific coal mining.
Pariat said the mining has affected each and every human activity including pollution of rivers, streams and rivers and affecting agriculture and development. He said the people should be made aware of the problem of water scarcity as it was so vital to human existence.
“People should be made aware of the problem. No plans and programmes of the government will be successful without people’s participation,” Pariat said, adding that when the people become aware of the problem, they would eventually think of preserving it for future generation. (PTI)
Source: The Shillong Times
