BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

NONGTDU, SHRI ONWARD L

B.A., B.T.; I.N.C. (Meghalaya); s. of late Shri O.L. Suchiang and late Shrimati M. Nongtdu; b. at Sutnga Village, Meghalaya, January 1, 1941; ed. at (i) Jowai Government High School, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, (ii) St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and (iii) Post Graduate Training College, Shillong, Meghalaya; m. Shrimati E. Phira, March 4, 1964; 1 s. and 3 d.

Agriculturist and Businessman; started and ran (i) Sutnga Presbytary High School, 1966-72 and (ii) Dairy Cooperative Farming at Latyrke Village, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, 1972-82; associated with the All Party Hill Leaders Conference, 1966-70; President, (i) Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya since 1993 (ii) Meghalaya Taekwondo Association, 1988-94 and (iii) Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committtee since 1996; Chairman, (i) Meghalaya Housing Cooperative Society, 1984-86, (ii) Meghalaya Marketing Cooperative Federation Limited, 1986-88 and (iii) Literature Cooperative Society Limited, Laban, Shillong since 1990; Deputy Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, March, 1993- January, 1996; Member, (i) Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, March, 1972 - February, 1978 and again, February, 1988 - January, 1993, (ii) Hill State People's Democratic Party, 1970-73, (iii) All Party Hill Leaders Conference, March, 1973 - November, 1976, (iv) Indian National Congress since November, 1976, (v) All India Congress Committee, (vi)Indo-Soviet Cultural Society since 1976, (vii) Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution, (viii) Committee on the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, (ix) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, (x) Court of the North-Eastern Hill University and (xi) Governing Council of North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong; Minister, Meghalaya Government for (i) Public Works Department, Power, District Council Affairs, 1988-90, (ii) Home, Health and Finance, March, 1992 - February, 1993; elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1996.

Travels abroad: U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakia, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, U.K., U.S.A., Switzerland and Nepal.

Publications: Published two local weekly news papers, (i) "U Jaintia" and (ii) "Ka Pyrla".

Special interest: Travelling, sports and farming.

Favourite pastime and recreation: Sports.

Permanent address: Riatsamthiah, Shillong - 793001, Meghalaya.