SHILLONG, May 29 - The Meghalaya Government today allowed non-contact sports to resume in the State. With this decision, Meghalaya�s very own �casinos� � the teer (gambling through archery) counters � are likely to open for business soon.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the State Government further eased the lockdown restrictions and allowed all non-contact sports to resume in the State, after a review meeting.
Tynsong pointed out that archery is a non-contact sport. �We discussed reopening of non-contact sports, including archery. Notifications will be issued by the deputy commissioners,� he said.
Teer is a form of gambling unique to the State. It is conducted on the basis of the number of arrows shot at a target and counted at 4 pm every day at the Polo Grounds here. The results are declared thereafter.
Different teams from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills take part in this traditional sport of archery or teer (arrow) shooting contest. On the other hand, people place bets on numbers 0 to 99, at the teer counters.
The State Taxation Department earns a substantial amount of revenue through taxes levied on the teer games. Teer was legalised in 1982 under the Meghalaya Amusements and Betting Tax (Amendment) Act 1982, now known as the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
There are hundreds of teer counters in the State and the results are not only keenly awaited in the State, but also in Assam and also faraway Bangladesh where illegal bets are allegedly placed on the results announced in Meghalaya.
However, these teer counters have remained closed during the ongoing lockdown. Friday�s decision to allow non-contact sports, including archery, has now paved the way for the teer counters to reopen.
Meanwhile, the State Government has allowed private and non-profit making establishments or organisations to reopen, but with only 33 per cent staff. They will also have to strictly follow the stipulated protocols.
Restrictions have also been lifted on bringing in and employing skilled workers from outside the State in private and government construction sites.
Construction firms, both private and government, will have to apply to the deputy commissioners concerned, in order to engage such workers. Permission will be granted by the departments concerned through the deputy commissioners, the Deputy Chief Minister said.