Shillong, Jan. 19: The Meghalaya government is gearing up to celebrate the 45th Statehood Day on Saturday. The theme for the celebration will centre on "peace" and music will take the centre stage.
From here to Tura and Ampati in Garo hills, preparations are under way to commemorate the 45th Statehood Day. It was on January 21, 1972, that Meghalaya - the abode of clouds - was launched as a full-fledged state. Prior to that, on April 2, 1970, it was created as an autonomous state.
In Shillong, apart from the distribution of Meghalaya Day Awards to government employees, there will be other programmes to commemorate the occasion.
While the pipe band from the Assam Rifles will perform at the picturesque Ward's Lake, a women's exhibition football match will be held at Polo ground. It will be followed by a musical extravaganza featuring guest artiste Julia Bliss from Russia and local bands. Besides, participants in the event will have access to various cuisines.
In Tura, there will be a peace concert where tributes will be paid to country legends. At the same time, the year-long celebrations for 150 years of Tura town will also begin.
Apart from the celebrations, Saturday will also be a moment when people will reflect on 45 years of Meghalaya.
The pending inter-state boundary dispute with neighbouring Assam still lingers in spite of successive governments having come and gone in both states. Meghalaya was carved out of the then composite state of Assam. A mutual agreement between the two states appears to be distant. There are at least 12 areas of differences between Meghalaya and Assam. These include Langpih, Upper Tarabari, Gizang reserve forest, Hahim, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah-Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah, blocks I and II, Khanduli-Psiar and Ratacherra.
These cover an area of around 2,700 square km of which the two blocks cover around 1,500 square km.
While now tranquillity generally prevails and law and order is stable, militant groups like the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and the A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK), which recently kidnapped traders, are still active in some parts of Garo hills. Last year witnessed a deluge in surrenders by militants especially those belonging to the GNLA.
Crimes against women and children have also been matters of concern for the state. According to Meghalaya police's statistics, from January to November 2016, there were 201 reported cases of crime against children in the state. Out of these, 101 cases were registered under sections of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. There were also 22 child rape cases which were reported while 41 cases were related to abductions.
During the same period (January to November 2016), 275 cases of crime against women were reported in the state. Out of these, 84 cases were related to rape.
Although the state has undoubtedly made strides in many fronts like roads, the Umroi airport is yet to be expanded.
