Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 29/19

MEGHALAYA DAY CELEBRATION

A grand function was held today at U Soso Tham Auditorium to commemorate the 47th Meghalaya Statehood Day. The function organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K. Sangma as the Chief Guest and Shri A.L. Hek, Minister Information & Public Relations as the Guest of Honour, along with Shri Hamletson Dohling, Urban Affairs Minister and other senior government officials and functionaries. Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said it was important to value the fact we have a separate State to cater to the needs and aspirations of the people and reminded everyone of the great sacrifice and struggle of past leaders for Meghalaya’s Statehood. “The purpose of celebrating Meghalaya Day is to remind each one of us of the supreme sacrifices of our great leaders during the struggle for a separate State. It is important to celebrate this day with great fervour and enthusiasm,” he added. The Chief Minister informed the gathering that the government would take up unique initiatives to mark this year’s anniversary celebrations. He apprised the people of the government’s initiative to start a 100 day program for different government departments. The program will focus on a specific task ranging from energy conservation, environment issue, education, etc. to be completed within a stipulated time frame. The Chief Minister said that it was the government’s priority to focus on the welfare of the people for greater progress and prosperity of the State.

The ‘Sister States’ program would look ways to partner with other States in areas ranging from tourism, technology, education, cultural exchange, etc. The Chief Minister said that the program would lead to fruitful exchange and adoption of the best practices that other States have to offer in key areas of focus and build support for each other through this initiative. “We often look towards the Central Government when we need support. But we can build mutually beneficial networks by partnering with other States in India. If this kind of a movement takes place throughout the country it has the potential to transform the nation”, he added. The Chief Minister also stressed on the importance of documentation of the State’s journey through the years and entrusted the Department of Information and Public Relations to take the initiative towards this. During the function the Chief Minister also handed over the awards to the recipients of the Meghalaya Day Excellence Award 2018. The names of the recipients of the Meghalaya Day Awards, 2019 and the Governor’s Medal were also announced in the function. The awards for the latter two will be distributed during the Republic day Celebrations on the 26th January 2019.

Press Release No. 31/19

CM INAUGURATES VARIOUS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AT TURA CIVIL HOSPITAL

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated the installation of C T Scan, Upgradation of Clinical Laboratory and Orthopaedic Operation Theatre and New Eye Operation Theatre and Ward Complex at the premises of Tura Civil Hospital, Tura. In his inaugural speech, Shri Conrad K Sangma while highlighting the importance of social sector said that Health Care Services is the most important service and any Government should provide the basic health care facilities to the people of the region and make it accessible even to the grassroot level. Stressing on the quality of service provided to the people, he urged the medical fraternity to know the purpose of their profession and to make a difference in people’s lives by providing the necessary services to them. Expressing his satisfaction with the new services being provided to the people, he said that it is unfair for the patient and their family to travel long distance just for this diagnosis and hopes that there will be change in medical care in the coming days. Meanwhile, he also informed about the improvement of Megha Health Insurance Scheme in which the insurance cover has been increased to 5 lakhs from 2.8 lakhs and it aims to include 8 lakh families under the scheme. Further, he informed that the Government is working towards installation of dialysis machine in Tura which would help many patients who are not in position to travel to other places and also working aggressively for providing free basic medicine to the people in the next financial year which would greatly help the needy patients in future.

While delivering his keynote address, Additional Director of Health Services (MI), Meghalaya, Dr A War stated that these new facilities available now in the Tura Civil Hospital has been a tremendous stride for the Government and is also a gift to the people of the Garo Hills region who no longer would need to travel to Guwahati or Goalpara just to do the C T Scan. Further, Dr War informed that 3.25 Crore has been sanctioned for the installation of C t Scan for the financial year 2017- 2018 and added that it would be made operational soon after installation and have already sent a personnel for training to operate this machine. Moreover, 4.95 Crore has been sanctioned for Upgradation of Clinical Laboratory which provides pathology, microbiology, haematology with complete power backup. He also mentioned that the Blindness Control Society has given 75 lakhs for the new Eye Operation Theatre and Eye Ward for the benefit of eye patients and the equipments provided would be augmented by the District Blindness Control Society, Tura. Other who spoke on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Shri Ram Singh, Superintendent, Tura Civil Hospital, Dr Menakshi A Sangma while Reverend, Goanang Baptist Church, Greaterburn R Marak led the gathering with dedication prayer. MLA, Dalu Constituency and Chairman MMDC, Shri Brening Sangma, Chairman, Tura Municipal Board, J D Sangma, President Nokma Council, Tura S G Momin, District Health and Medical Officer, Tura Dr. M R Sangma, Heads of Departments, Medical Officers and staff of Tura Civil Hospital were among others present at the inaugural function.

Press Release No. 32/19

WHATSAPP BASED PUBLIC GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM LAUNCHED

Meghalaya Chief Minister formally launched the “Chief Minister’s WhatsApp Based Public Grievance Redress Mechanism” on 21st January 2019, from his office chamber, in Shillong. Dedicating the digital initiative to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Meghalaya Day, the Chief Minister said this is the first time such a system has been put in place in India at a CMO’s level. He also added that the platform will enable the common citizens to connect with the Chief Minister’s Office directly and to a great extent help in resolving simple problems that would normally arise out of gaps in communication or information sharing. “The basic idea is to connect to the people. The digital system will usher in greater accessibility. It will also in turn allow us to address immediate problems in a more efficient and speedy manner”, he said. The Grievance Redress System is supported by a dedicated team comprising technicians from NIC. A complainant can lodge the grievance through WhatsApp to special BSNL number 94363-94363. The system identifies the nature of the complaint and generates a unique code for the same and the complaint is then forwarded to the concerned department or office at either district level or state level for taking immediate corrective action. The complainant is informed of the action taken report.

A monthly summary report of the complaints, department wise and district wise will be generated to see where the maximum complaints are originating from. This way departments will be encouraged to take proactive action without the people having to complain. The Chief Minister will review the system in his monthly video conference with the Deputy Commissioners. The netizens are encouraged to send the complaints or grievances from any part of the world concerning the issues about Meghalaya in the following format. Name, Whether you wish to disclose your name and identity, Nature of complaint, Department Concerned, Location (Village/Locality/Town/District), Pictures or Videos if any. The phone numbers will be kept strictly confidential. Official communique also informed that those people who do not have smartphones may choose to send a simple SMS as well. In order to prevent people from misusing this system by sending frivolous/vexatious complaints, by spamming through greetings or salutations such messages will be deleted summarily. Incomplete complaints or ones not following the format will also be deleted. Call facility is not available on this number. Citizens can lodge their complaints in any language Khasi, Garo, Pnar, Hindi or English.