Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 452/20

CHIEF MINISTER DISTRIBUTES POWER TILLERS TO FARMERS

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma distributed agricultural machinery equipment to farmers in a programme organised by the District Agriculture Office, West Garo Hills at Agriculture Complex Sangsanggre, Tura today evening. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma said that there are lot of opportunities in the agriculture sector and people can transform their lives by adopting these livelihood activities. In order to uplift the farming sector, he said that training for farmers must be given so as to adopt modern technology in farming which would help to increase their farm production. According to Chief Minister, because of the lockdown on account of Covid pandemic many people are now growing their own vegetables which he said is a good activity. Further, he also stressed on the importance of marketing and marketing linkages with regard to the sale of farm products at a good price. He then informed that Livestock Marketing Act has been introduced in the state and under this Act they can open Farmers Market in the district.

Adviser to the Chief Minister and MLA, North Tura, Shri Thomas A Sangma, while speaking on the occasion encouraged the farmers to utilise the available technology and enhance their farm production while Principal Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Dr. Shakil Ahammed stressing the importance of agriculture sector in the economic development of the nation, he said that agriculture is the backbone of the society and therefore, the farmers occupies an important position in the society and they should be given due recognition.

Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Shri Ram Singh, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Dr. M G R Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner and PD, DRDA, Tura C N Sangma, District Agriculture Officer M D Sangma were among others present on the occasion.

Press Release No. 453/20

CM LAUNCHES AND DISTRIBUTES LONG LASTING INSECTICIDAL MOSQUITO NETS FOR GARO HILLS REGION

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma launched and distributed the Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Nets (LLINs) for Garo Hills Region at District Auditorium, West Garo Hills, Tura on 4th July, 2020. The programme with the theme “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” was organised by District Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (DVBDCP), West Garo Hills Tura in collaboration with NVBDCP, Shillong. Adviser to the Chief Minister and MLA, North Tura, Shri Thomas A Sangma, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Dr. M G R Kumar, Medical Officials of all districts of Garo Hills region were among others present at the function. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Conrad K Sangma expressed his appreciation to all the medical fraternity for their dedication towards reduction and elimination of malaria and other vector borne diseases in the State of Meghalaya in general and Garo Hills region in particular. Stating that even before the Covid situation in the State, the government have already planned to give Health sector a special priority and now after this pandemic, the government has decided to give top priority and more importance to health care and is in the process of finalising the full infrastructural upgradation of all Civil Hospitals, Maternal and Child Hospital, CHCs, PHCs and Sub-Centres including technical equipments in a phased manner which will provide affordable and accessible health care facilities to the people of the region. Further, the Chief Minister said that what is more important than infrastructure development is the people which make the health care system work including medical officers to ASHAs in the grassroot level and added that the society comprising of each and every individual should take responsibility and do their part in maintaining the health care system of every citizen in the district. He also mentioned that the present District Auditorium, Tura which was inaugurated by Late P A Sangma in the year 1992 requires major repairing and therefore, a project for the construction of new auditorium is in the pipeline and construction work is likely to commence from this year itself, he added.

Commissioner and Secretary to the Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya Shri Sampath Kumar explained in brief the functioning of the ASHAs which had been initiated and formed in the year 2007 by Late P A Sangma, former Lok Sabha MP to take care of malaria affected patients in earlier days and said that about 70 per cent of malaria patients in Garo Hills are being looked after by ASHAs in rural areas adding that at present also ASHAs are being engaged in Covid-19. Further, he also mentioned that various discussions had been done to uplift the health scenario in the state. Deputy Director, Health Services (Malaria) cum State Programme Officer, NVBDCP, Meghalaya Dr. R Lyngdoh in her short presentation on Epidemiological Situation of Malaria in Meghalaya informed that malaria was the major health problem in the state, but in the last four years malaria has drastically reduced, except for South Garo Hills the overall scenario of malaria incidences in other district of the state are more or less controlled due to the sustained effort by the medical department. Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Shri Ram Singh, District Medical and Health Officer, Tura Dr. M R Sangma, Senior Medical and Health Officer incharge, DVBDCP, Tura Dr. B Ch Marak were among others who spoke during the launching programme.