Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 37/07

MEGHALAYA DAY CELEBRATION 2007

The 35th Meghalaya Day Celebration and the Year of the Farmer 2007 was celebrated on January 20, 2007 at Polo Ground Shillong. Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr. J D Rymbai grace the occasion as the chief guest in the presence of the Minister Agriculture, Mr. M I Sarkar, Chairman, MEDC, Dr. D D Lapang, Chairman, State Planning Board, Mr. S C Marak, Chairman, State Level Steering Committee, Mr. A H Scott Lyngdoh and other senior government officials.

In his speech, Mr. Rymbai said that the educated unemployed youth would be valuable assets in the proposed farm schools and village knowledge centers, which would play a vital role in the establishment of digital highways for rural livelihood. He further said that there was a need to revitalize the agricultural sector by making agrarian prosperity and food security the bottom line of the State’s policies and priorities. Mr. Rymbai also said that the State is very favorably placed for the growth of horticulture crop and the Government has accorded high priority to this sector, adding that most of the horticultural crops like turmeric, banana, citrus, pineapples etc are grown organic traditionally and the demarcation of organic farming zones will be added advantage for the farmers of the State to get better returns from these crops. He further added that the State’s policy thrust to the 11th Plan on agriculture will be dovetailed on a cluster approach, which facilitates the process of crop-specific and location-specific planning. Mr. Rymbai also congratulates the awardees of the Meghalaya Day Award 2007 and hope that their achievement will inspire others.

Dr. Lapang in his speech as the guest of honour said that the farmers are the backbone of the State, adding that the prominent role of agriculture and allied activities cannot be over emphasized as the State’s economy is basically agrarian with 80 p.c. of the people dependent on it.

Minister Agriculture, Mr. M I Sarkar who also presided over the function called upon the farmers to make use of the facilities being provided by the Government.

Other who spoke on the occasion were Chairman, State Planning Board, Mr. S C Marak and Chairman State Level Steering Committee, Mr. A H Scott Lyngdoh who proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier, Mr. Rymbai handed over the U Tirot Sing Award 2007 for Arts and Culture to Mr. Kamai War and Mrs. Caroline R Marak, the Pa Togan N Sangma Award 2007 for Social Service to Sr. Judith Shadap and posthumously to Late. A Chaudhuri while the U Kiang Nongbah Award 2007 for Sport to Lekini Suting. Mr. Rymbai also handed over the Meghalaya Excellence Award to the State Government employees.

Mr. Rymbai also inaugurated the Kisan Mela Exhibition to mark the Year of the Farmer 2007.