Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 500/12

99 VILLAGES OF KHASI JAINTIA AND RI BHOI CONFERRED NIRMAL GRAM PURASKAR 2011

Shillong, November 16, 2012: In recognition to the achievement in Total Sanitation Campaign, 99 villages of East and West Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi Districts were today conferred with the Nirmal Gram Puraskar 2011 at the Don Bosco Hall, Shillong. Of the 99 villages, 40 are from East Khasi Hills, 44 from West Khasi Hills, 15 from Ri Bhoi and none from Jaintia Hills District. West Khasi Hills District was also awarded the highest achiever of all other Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi District under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan and the award was received by the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Mr. S Kharlyngdoh.

It may be mentioned that out of the 365 villages in Meghalaya selected for the award, 99 are from East, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi District while the rest are from East, West and South Garo Hills.

The award ceremony, organized by the State Water and Sanitation Mission Meghalaya in association with the Public Health Engineering Department and the District Water and Sanitation Mission, was graced by the Meghalaya Minister, PHE, Mr. Shitlang Pale. Others present were the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Mr. W M S Pariat, Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District, Mr. S Kharlyngdoh, Chief Engineer, PHE, Mr. S K Sun, CE, Environment & Sanitation, Shillong, Mrs. I Hooroo and State Coordinator, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, Mr. R K Pandey.

Rural sanitation programme with a new demand- response initiative under the centrally sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) has been taken up in all the districts of Meghalaya. The programme is implemented on the demand driven mode with active involvement of local villagers for which considerable IEC activities have been carried out. To encourage the implementation of the programme, the Government of India has instituted NGP Award, as per the TSC guidelines, to be felicitated to clean and open defecation villages.

The progress of TSC projects in all districts are at various stages of implementation. The main goal includes schools, Anganwadi Centers and individual household to be provided with necessary toilet facilities and overall cleanliness of the village by constructing liquid and solid waste management to create hygienic rural environment.

Congratulating the 99 villages of Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi Districts, Mr. Shitlang Pale said that maintaining cleanliness and hygiene reflects one’s love and concern for the motherland. He said that Meghalaya has shown tremendous improvement in TSC in the last two years and that the government acknowledges the effort of its citizens. He stated that one of the visions of the government is to make the state green and clean and to achieve this goal the participation of everyone is necessary. He added that cleanliness is beyond just having a sanitary latrine and includes various diverse aspects for a green and healthy living.

Later all the participants took a pledge to maintain cleanliness, preserve and conserve nature and to leave behind the legacy of a green environment to future generations.

Press Release No. 501/12

AIRMEN RECRUITMENT RALLY

Shillong, November 16, 2012: An airmen recruitment rally of the Indian Air Force for Group X (Technical) will be held at the HQ Eastern Air Command, Upper Shillong, on November 22-24, 2012. Candidates should be born within 01.01.1992 to 31.3.1996 and should passed Intermediate or 10+2 or equivalent examination with Mathematics, Physics and English or three years Diploma course in engineering (Mechanical or Electrical or Electronics or Automobile or Computer Science or Instrumentation Technology or Information Technology) from a recognized institution. The age limit is

Detailed information can be obtained from 11 Airmen Selection Centre, Guwahati, Phone No. 0361-2843385, 0361-2842720 Extn-5333, Email:elevenasc@rediffmail.com