Shillong’s Seven Sisters Waterfall Is A Treat For Tourists

As per the latest Shillong live news reports, the Seven Sisters Waterfall Shillong, has become a major favourite for tourists frequenting the area. There are several Shillong people who testify to the growing popularity of this waterfall amongst those visiting the State for leisure and tourism. This waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Meghalaya. The State already has a plethora of waterfalls such as the Elephant Falls, Crinoline Falls, Spread Eagle Falls and Sweet Falls among several others. However, there is a special charm inherent in the Seven Sisters Waterfall which gives visitors the chance to clearly discern 7 distinct falls located adjacent to each other, cascading over the pristine cliff, thereby offering an amazing insight into the wonders of nature.

This 7-segmented waterfall also overlooks Bangladesh on one side. According to the Shillong news bulletins, the Seven Sisters Waterfall flows majorly in the monsoon. The best time to visit would be anywhere between July and September for tourists. This waterfall is situated at Cherrapunji, which is the world’s wettest zone. The waterfall draws tourists both from other parts of India and even from across the globe. The entire area is peaceful, green laced and calming. Shillong offers easy access to Cherrapunji which is only 2 hours away by car.

It is easy to reach if one ventures out in the morning and can be a nice day trip of sorts. Cherrapunji also has several other attractions like the Mawsmai Caves and the Nohkalikai Falls among others. These are must-visit attractions in Cherrapunji along with the root bridges which are amazingly created bridges from tree roots. The Seven Sisters Waterfall is also called by two other names, namely the Mawsmai Falls or the Nohsngithiang Falls. This located approximately 1 kilometres southwards from the East Khasi Hills’ Mawsmai Village. The water drops from 315 metres or 1033 ft approximately with 70 metres or 230 ft being the approximate width. This makes it one of the country’s tallest waterfalls. The falls go over the Khasi Hills’ lovely limestone cliffs during the monsoons. They are sun-laced and the lovely colors will be a treat for your senses indeed!

There are many waterfalls present in Sohra as well and these include the Dain Thlen Falls and Nohkalikai Falls. The Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills regions also have several waterfalls including the Pelga Falls which are located near Tura and the Tyrchi Falls which can be viewed while going to Jowai. 

Meghalaya Witnesses Skyrocketing Economic Development

In terms of economic development in Meghalaya, the statistics are quite promising indeed. Meghalaya was reported as the fastest growing State in India as of 2013-14 which is more than 9.5% of growth witnessed by Madhya Pradesh for this period. Meghalaya notched up 9.7% as a growth rate which indicates growing economic development in North East Indiaand Meghalaya in particular. In fact, as per reports, there has been heartening economic development in Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh as well. To take the entire North East into perspective, the unemployment rates are quite low in the region. 12.8 million live below the poverty line in the region which is lower than Kerala at 12.9 million people alone. 

The 8 North Eastern States are witnessing rapid growth, particularly in terms of education. They are majorly dependent on agriculture although economic activities are taking time to accelerate. Meghalaya also had the second lowest rate of unemployment in the country with only 2.8% in the urban zones and 0.4% in the rural areas as of 2011-12. Needless to say, the figures have only improved since then. The Government is doing its best to accelerate economic development with better connectivity, infrastructure and the emphasis on tourism and agro-horticulture. Meghalaya gets India’s highest rainfall and there are several crops which do well here including jute, cotton, pulses, rice, oilseeds and so on. Bamboo is a major industry here with several prospects in the future. The State has been successful in cultivating oilseeds, cashew nuts, tea, mushroom, tomatoes and wheat. 

Other major sectors include fruits and spices along with medicinal plants. Meghalaya produces 8 out of the top 20 medicinal plants being traded in India as per reports. Meghalaya also has huge potential in terms of thermal and hydroelectric power in tandem with renewable power. There are ample deposits of quartz, limestone, coal, uranium and bauxite in Meghalaya. There are two National Parks along with opportunities in adventure tourism. There are three wildlife sanctuaries as well. There is IT and electronics which is growing steadily in Meghalaya along with horticulture and agro-processing. Education is also proving to be a sunrise sector. 

Meghalaya is one of the leading suppliers of flowers for consumer markets across the mainland along with being a large producer of bamboo. Hydroelectric power, tourism and education are other investment hotspots in Meghalaya. Weaving and handloom sectors also offer much promise for industries. There are several large production centres for handloom products. There are several weaving centres as well. Government initiatives for self-help groups and entrepreneurs and its unique partnerships with communities for eco-tourism projects have led to the creation of a more favorable environment for business and other economically sustainable activities. Going forward, even the health care sector will be a major employer since the Government is working on new Medical Colleges and other initiatives.

North East Elections- All The Facts

The North East India elections are on the anvil and the various political parties of North East India are steadily starting their campaigns for the same. The biggest factor here is the equation between BJP and Northeast India which will influence the results of the elections in a major way as per political analysts. The 18th of February, 2018, has been finalized as the election date for Tripura while the elections for Nagaland and Meghalaya will be held on the 27th of February, 2018 as per reports. The three Northeastern states are all set for elections which will have a major impact on the country’s overall political scenario going forward. The elections will take place in two phases and all three states will have the results released on the 3rd of March, 2018.

Several parties are now tapping the Northeast with an aim towards expanding their national reach including the BJP. This election will be closely monitored for its implications in terms of the 2019 General Elections that will follow. The tenor of the assembly in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland will be concluding on the 6th, 14th and 13th of March respectively. All of these States have a legislative assembly of 60 members. All the states will see the implementation of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) and the EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) this time and the first level checks have already finished for the same. The MCC (Model Code of Conduct) has already been implemented in these states. The VVPAT machines will be implemented for the very first time in Meghalaya and voters were previously using the ballot paper method.
The Assam Rifles will be consolidating its presence along the Indo-Myanmar border to contain any disturbances or violence prior to the elections. Meghalaya will get 60 pink booths for women voters who find it tough to vote otherwise and these will be managed by women personnel themselves. These booths will be there in every constituency by the Election Commission of India. 86, 890 voters in Meghalaya between 18 and 19 years of age will be voting for the very first time this year. The State has 133 youngsters who were born on the 1st of January, 2000 and they will also be voting for the very first time. The elections will be monitored by the ECI through CCTV cameras and webcast. 193 polling booths in Meghalaya throughout 11 districts have been identified for direct webcasting.

Nature Is Closely Tied to Identity of Nagaland

The 68^th Biennial Literary and Cultural Day was held by the SASU (Southern Angami Students Union) on the 27^th of January, 2018, at the Khuzama Local Ground. This event had the Cognizing Culture Identity theme and the Guest Speaker was Er Khose Sale, the Chief Engineer at the Department of Power in Kohima, Nagaland. He declared that the theme centers on the concept of identity which is a manifestation of several cultures and values of human beings and also makes up the progressive elements in all ancient beliefs, customs that are practice, social organizations and ways of life of diverse ethnic communities and groups. Cognizing entails on total knowledge and preservation of these practices and the very essence here is the power to choose or make a decision.

Widely expounding into the theme, the Guest Speaker talked of how there is a need for more recording and documentation of Nagaland’s history as per the latest Nagaland live news reports. Nagaland news reports also highlighted the emphasis placed on academic research by Er Khose Sale. The rich cultural past of Nagaland has to be documented urgently in order to preserve the same according to him. He also added that there is oral scattering of several elements of local culture which had to be recorded swiftly in order to pass them onto the next generations.

Sale also stated that traditions and culture have to evolve in order to sync with local customs, mindsets, attitudes and identity. He talked of how identity of Nagaland people in this case was linked to nature in several ways, including forests, mountains, flora and fauna, land, rivers, trees and so on. Losing these natural resources entails losing identity. As a result, protection of nature is the key towards preserving natural identities of several tribal cultures according to Sale. From the practices followed by men and Nagaland women to the Nagaland food images that have gained a huge following worldwide, there is a need to preserve and document every aspect of the State’s culture and identity.

Naga tradition and history contains nuggets of learning, wisdom and culture that speak of sustainability and ecology. The identity of Nagaland is thus closely tied to Nature itself, starting with cultural practices, habitats, clan systems and other institutional practices, story-telling, folklore and even gennas and taboos according to participants at the event. Sale also talked of how food gathering activities like hunting and fishing were also sustainable traditions for Nagaland, while noting that several contemporary practices have led to a disruption of the entire existential chain. Focusing on furthering traditions and cultures will keep values intact and also boost the economy according to him.

The President of SASU, Ketholeto Anthony Zashiimo, also addressed the gathering and talked of how the theme which was meant to explore and further the rich tradition and cultures of the State. There are several modernizing forces which are disrupting the community and making the next generations unmindful of their cultural pasts and traditions. This event strived to revive the same through discussions and several activities. More than 700 students participated in the event from Southern Angami’s 13 villages along with elders and other guests from Angami regions.

10 villages took part in the cultural competition cum exhibition. The President of the Naga Student Federation or NSF, Kesosul Christopher Ltu, addressed the gathering at the event, highlighting the rising levels of unemployment amongst today’s youth. There was a quiz contest on the Angami Naga history and traditions along with folk dance, original story writing, Tati, painting and Mepfii Kero (war cry) competitions. The current Mr. and Miss SASU 2018 crowns went to Kezoma Village’s Siivito Mekro and Kigwema Village’s Vikhotsono Khora respectively

Massive Fire Breaks Out In Arunachal Pradesh’s Dirang

As part of the latest Arunachal live news, a massive fire has broken out in the State. The latest Arunachal news reports state that the fire broke out in the vital Dirang Market are. Arunachal Pradesh news bulletins have also confirmed that approximately 100 civilians have been successfully rescued from the fire by the ITBP or the Indo-Tibetan Border Police who have mounted huge efforts to minimize the damage caused by this fire.More than 45 homes and shops have unfortunately been gutted in this fire which broke out on Saturday, the 27 th of January, 2018. This broke out in the market zone of the Dirang town in Arunachal Pradesh which is situated in the West Kameng district. Most of the homes that were gutted in the fire were mixed-used developments, comprising of both shops and residential structures as per the latest Arunachal live news reports. Koj Yabiyang, the Circle Officer, issued his official statement, whereby he stated that the massive fire rapidly spread towards both sides of the narrow road in the Dirang Market area, completely gutting many homes and shops within just one hour. There is no official information as of yet with regard to the cause of the fire which broke out approximately at noon on Saturday. The silver lining here is that no serious casualties have been reported as of yet. The ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) has earned plaudits nation-wide for its role in the rescue of 100 people from the searing blaze and also in dousing the fire with alacrity. The authorities have been successful in helping save property which is estimated to be worth lakhs of rupees. Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of State from Home Affairs and MP from Arunachal Pradesh, has also officially released his statement as per the latest Arunachal Pradesh news reports.

He has stated that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police along with the Sashastra Seema Bal have played a vital role in rescuing people from the fire and have saved many lives in collaboration with the local residents and members of the police. There was also a unit established for offering food to approximately 100 people who were affected by this fire. The blaze was swiftly brought under control by the authorities as well.

Mass Contact Programme Initiated By RSS In North East

RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), the parent organization behind the BJP(Bhartiya Janata Party) has initiated its mass contact programme throughout India, particularly in the North East Region, Konkan Region and some parts of Uttar Pradesh as per the latest North East news headlines. As per sources, the whole idea behind this mass contact programme is to facilitate the expansion of the RSS in the major North East States and to reach out to more youngsters. The RSS had already organized an event called Lui Poria or Sons of Brahmaputra in Assam. Assam is the main area of focus according to latest Northeast news reports but the programme saw participation from all 8 States. The meeting took place on the 21^st of January, 2018, in Guwahati. This programme comes just ahead of the Assembly elections in 8 states including 3 in the North East Region and with the 2019 General Election on the anvil as well. This programme will be aimed at showcasing the Central Government’s achievements and facilitating expansion through new recruits in the region. This is the first time that the RSS is attempting such an expansion plan in the North East region with special emphasis on youngsters.

The NDA led by the BJP currently holds power in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland. The BJP is also striving to come to power in the Assembly elections in Nagaland. Meghalaya and Tripura. A mass contact programme is also being set up in Uttar Pradesh’s north-western and western areas. There is a meeting slated to be held next month in Meerut. This region has played a major part in helping the BJP win the Assembly elections this year and the Lok Sabha elections in the year 2014.

The RSS feels that there should be a shakha present in almost every Indian village. There are close to 60, 000 shakhas or branches being run by the RSS throughout India. The outreach programme concept is something that has been done in the past as well. However, the major change here is that these events will be organized for just a day as compared to three days previously. The RSS also wishes to unite all members of various local branches and shakhas, making them feel connected to one big national platform. The branches have a limited number of members and these people may not always understand that they are part of a huge organization that contributes towards national development. As a result, these day long events will be held where shakha members can interact with other counterparts from diverse areas. This will build the entire organizational framework and help in garnering new recruits as well. According to experts, with the BJP holding power at the Centre and in many states, the RSS will naturally try to scale up its overall reach and visibility with a view towards expansion of its network

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Significant Visit To Shillong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Shillong in the recent past and while addressing the gathering, set the tone for the election campaign to follow by stating how the Congress rule for 15 years has totally ruined the prospects of Meghalaya. According to Modiin Shillong live reports, the Prime Minister stated that there is a new wave of change which first emerged victorious in the elections in Assam and would soon come to Meghalaya. He added that the State can be much more successful in the future under BJP rule. The BJP is already ruling Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam and is now eyeing victory in Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram where elections are slated to take place soon. 

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road on his visit to Shillong. He talked of the Congress Government committing several scams and the irregularities with regard to appointment of teachers. He talked of how the wrong people were appointed on recommendations given by Congress MPs and MLAs and this has led to a shortage of around 1, 700 teachers in Meghalaya’s primary schools. He touched on unemployment and also stated that in spite of the Chief Minister being a doctor, the health care sector is deteriorating in Meghalaya. He also talked of scams in the mid-day meal scheme for children. 

He added that the BJP had a single point agenda, namely development, speedy development, and all-round development. He also talked of how after Morarji Desai, he was the first Prime Minister to participate in the North-Eastern Council Meeting. He talked of how earlier Governments were not pro-North East. He talked of prioritizing the development of the North East. Narendra Modi also highlighted that the Government had sanctioned projects for roads and railways worth Rs. 79, 000 crore for the region. 

4, 000 km of National Highways have also been sanctioned for Rs. 32, 000 crore throughout the North East. 15 new railway lines are being built and will cover close to 1400 km. This will cost another Rs. 47, 000 crore according to the Prime Minister. He stated that the Union Government wishes to boost Meghalaya’s standing towards becoming a preferred tourism destination in India. Rs. 100 crore has already been sanctioned for the development of tourist destinations in Meghalaya as per the Prime Minister.

He announced Rs. 90, 000 crore in total for the betterment of national highways and roads over the next 2-3 years. Rs. 60, 000 crore has been proposed under the SARDP (Special Accelerated Road Development Project) scheme for the region while Rs. 30, 000 crore has been proposed under Bharatmala for developing national highways in these States according to the Prime Minister. He also added that 1200 km of National Highways was built by his Government in the last years with a total expenditure of close to Rs. 14, 000 crore.