SHILLONG, March 17 - All educational institutions in Meghalaya will remain closed till March 31 as a precautionary measure due to the threat posed by the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, the ongoing budget session of the State Assembly has also been postponed.
However, no case of coronavirus has been detected in Meghalaya so far. On Monday, which was the second day of the budget session, the discussion on the threat posed by the virus across the globe was discussed with members of the Assembly calling upon the State Government to take immediate and drastic measures.
Opposition MLAs George B Lyngdoh and Miani D Shira moved an adjournment motion to discuss various steps required to be taken to contain coronavirus and the economic impact due to the fear of the virus.
Prior to the adjournment motion, Health Minister AL Hek made a statement in the House, stating that a meeting held on Sunday between him and Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, along with officials of Health and Education departments, discussed the threat posed by COVID-19 and proposed preventive measures, which include closure of educational institutes, except allowing various examinations going on in the State.
After Hek�s statement, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh adjourned the House for 45 minutes, and convened an urgent meeting in his chamber, that was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma and the Health Minister.
The meeting discussed the current situation due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in India, which has also been declared a pandemic by the WHO.
When the House reassembled, the Speaker announced that he had chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, and it was decided to postpone the budget session. The budget session is likely to resume in June for tabling and passing the full budget.
