Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 279/12

APPLICATION INVITED FOR AVAILING CHIEF MINISTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

Shillong, August 9, 2012: The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, invites application from interested Colleges/Schools/VAs/NGOs of the District having students/members in the age group of 15-25 years for undertaking youth related activities and programmes under the Chief Minister Youth Development Scheme 2011-2012. Application forms are available in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong in Room No. 311. The last date for submission of application is 31st August, 2012.

Press Release No. 280/12

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO VAS, NGOS, SHGS UNDER VOLUNTARY ACTION FUND

Shillong, August 9, 2012: The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District invites proposal from Voluntary Organizations/Non-Governmental Organizations/Graded Self Help Groups for consideration of providing financial assistance from the Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) of Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya during the year 2011-2012 in accordance with the approved guidelines.

Assistance under this scheme shall include only short term training programme, workshop and seminar of socio-economic importance. The financial assistance to be sanctioned to the VAs/NGOs/SHGs will depend on the merit and nature of the scheme. The proposals shall be scrutinized by the District Level Empowered Committee and the decision of the committee will be final. Application forms for submission of proposals and other details can be obtained from the O/o the District Planning Officer, East Khasi Hills, Shillong.

Interested VAs/NGOs/SHGs are to submit their proposal alongwith the details of the scheme and relevant documents to the District Planning Office, O/o the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong on or before the 31st August, 2012.

Press Release No. 281/12

DRY DAY DECLARED

Shillong, August 9, 2012: The Deputy Commissioner (Excise), East Khasi Hills District has declared Dry Day throughout the District on August 15, 2012 on account of Independence Day.

All IMFL shops/bars/hotels/clubs/outstill shops and bonded warehouses shall remain close on the said day.

Press Release No. 282/12

MEGHALAYA CHIEF MINISTER DR MUKUL SANGMA INAUGURATES SOUTH WEST GARO HILLS

Shillong, August 9, 2012: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today inaugurated the South West Garo Hills in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues, at its headquarters, Ampati. This is the fourth and the last among the newly created district in the state to be inaugurated by Dr. Sangma.

Southwest Garo Hills has been carved out of West Garo Hills district and the areas under its jurisdiction are Betasing and Zikzak C&RD Blocks, including villages from under Garobadha GS circle of Selsella block, Okkapara Songma GS circle and Chengkomgre GS circle under Gambegre block and Dokonggre GS circle under Rongram block. The district is bounded by Assam and West Garo Hills in the north, Bangladesh in south, West Garo Hills in the east and Assam and Bangladesh in the west.

Congratulating the people of South West Garo Hills on the occasion, the Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to his Cabinet colleagues for the achievement and shared the credit with them saying that it had been possible only with their consistent support. He particularly thanked all the officers of the parent district for supporting the move of the government to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people of the area.

Stating that creation of the new districts was to free the people from backwardness and poverty, Dr. Sangma said that a government in a democracy must work as representative of the people with the main focus of serving its people. The Chief Minister said he was particularly happy to have been able to inaugurate the district where he was born and brought up and stressed the need to keep up the traditional values, that is, love and respect for one’s own homeland and respect for one’s elders.

While appealing the people of the State to cooperate in ensuring peace in the State, he said that it was an irony that there are more killings and kidnappings taking place in a Christian dominated state like Meghalaya. He said that unless there is uniformity in development in all parts of the state there will be migration of population from rural to urban areas and informed the people that the government has come up with several initiatives and called upon the stakeholders to come together to make these initiatives successful.

Earlier, the Chief Minister handed over the government notification stating the creation of the South West Garo Hills District to its first Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Ram Singh.

The inauguration of the district saw a host of Cabinet ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries addressing the mammoth crowd in the mini-stadium calling upon the people to take up the challenge of building their new district and making it the best in the State. The speakers included, among others, the Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya Dr D D Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister B.M.Lanong, Education Minister Dr. R.C. Laloo, Urban Affairs Minister Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh, Forest Minister Prestone Tynsong, GAD Minister A.L.Hek, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Transport Minister A.T. Mondal, PHE Minister Shitlang Pale and C&RD Minister Saleng Sangma. The function was added with colourful cultural programme presented by the Garo, Hajong, Koch, Bengali, etc communities of the district.

Press Release No. 283/12

CM INAUGURATES EIC AND BNRGSK BUILDING

Shillong, August 9, 2012: To provide equal opportunities to aspiring teachers a quota for teacher’s training will be given to each block of the state so as to ensure there is no imbalance. This was informed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, today while inaugurating the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra (BNRGSK) building and the Entrepreneurship Information Centre (EIC) at Betasing C & RD Block.

Addressing the gathering Dr Sangma stressed .on the importance of convergence for rapid and stable development throughout the state through the implementation of the government’s various flagship programmes like the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood programme. He said that the infrastructure being inaugurated was meant to impart training to the people of the region on various livelihood missions under the IDBLP. Congratulating the people of Betasing and surrounding areas Dr Sangma informed that the people now could avail schemes under the IDBLP in the Block itself and need not go to the District headquarters anymore.

Deliberating on various government interventions to facilitate uniform development throughout the state in respect of livelihood and income generation he said that the government would ensure that at least three livelihood opportunities for each family in the state. Regarding education Dr Sangma informed that the government was providing as scholarship to exceptional students in higher secondary levels of the state Rupees five thousand to aid them financially. He also informed that twenty five thousand applicants for pisciculture under IDBLP was being processed and that funds would soon be sanctioned. Dr Sangma later released the CD on IDBLP.

Among others who spoke on the occasion were West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, GHADC Chief Executive Member P K Sangma, Southwest Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, West Garo Hills, ADC A Ch Marak and Nokma of Binapara Lipson Sangma.

Press Release No. 284/12

MEGHALAYA TO BE DEVELOPED INTO ARTS AND CULTURE DESTINATION

Shillong, August 9, 2012: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today inaugurated Ghasura Park designed on the lines of a contemporary Japanese Zen garden at Ampati.

Addressing the gathering in Koch language, Dr Sangma congratulated and lauded the people of Ghasura for donating the 1.5 hectare of land free of cost where the park was designed and developed by the department s of Horticulture and Tourism. Stressing on the need to have convergence he said that the departments of Tourism and Art and Culture in the state will be merged in due course of time. He informed that the government of Meghalaya will be investing a huge sum of money to promote arts and culture and sports in the state. The first phase of the promotion will be to develop the state into an arts and culture destination informed Dr Sangma.

Stressing on the need to develop road connectivity of the newly created Southwest Garo Hills district Dr Sangma, said that the Ampati-Betasing-Mellim road will be completed furing the next financial year.

Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism, R V Suchiang elaborating on the development of Ghasura park informed that glass reinforced polymer and deckwood was used for the decor and infrastructure of the recreational area.

Among others who spoke at the occasion were MTDC Chairman, R Lyngdoh, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi and GHADC CEM, P K Sangma. The inauguration was attended by Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Co Chairman State Planning Board, Zenith Sangma, wife of Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dikanchi D Shira and Father of Meghalaya Chief Minister, Binoy M Marak.