The Meghalaya government has constituted a state advisory council mandated to advise the government for smooth implementation of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), officials said on Thursday.

Chaired by Education Minister RC Laloo, "the state advisory council is mandated to advise the state government on issues pertaining to the smooth implementation of the RTE in the state," a recent notification in this regard said.

The body will have principals of leading schools and colleges in the state as non-official members.

Eight official members to the council include the executive chairman of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE), officials from law and social welfare department besides the principal secretary of the education department, officials said.

Further, the state government had also constituted a Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) aimed at safeguarding the rights of children to free and compulsory education.

Kerma Lyngdoh, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University, heads the REPA and assisted by Carmo Noronha, director of Bethany Society and St Edmund's social welfare department head lecturer Farida Warjri.

The REPA is also mandated to inquire into complaints with regards to the RTE in Meghalaya.

The implementation of the RTE is expected to begin from 2013 onwards in Meghalaya after the government has re-drafted certain parts of the approved rules which stakeholders in education had vehemently opposed to.

The Committee on Subordinate legislation had tabled its report on the floor of the House recently with recommendations and suggestions to effectively implement the RTE rules, 2011.