Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 40/15

66TH REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATION AT SHILLONG AND TURA

Shillong, January 27, 2015: Together with the rest of the country, the 66th Anniversary of the Indian Republic Day was celebrated at Second Ground, Polo, Shillong. The Deputy Chief Minister, Prof. R. C. Laloo unfurled the Tricolor and took the Rashtriya Salute of the 14 March Past Contingents which comprise of Assam Regiment Centre, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Meghalaya Armed Police, District Executive Force both Men & Women contingent, Border Wing Battalion of the Home Guards, National Cadet Corps Boys, National Cadet Corp Girls, Boys Sports Company, Scouts & Guides and Phudmuri Presbyterian Secondary School. The marching contingents were led by Captain Vikash Thapa of the Assam Regimental Centre.

Later, in the presentation of tableaux, various Government departments and Agencies which include Social Welfare, Health and Family Welfare, Tourism, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, District Rural Development Agency, East Khasi Hills, Forest and Environment, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Meghalaya Aids Control Society, Soil and Water Conservation, Deputy Commissioner (Election) Office, Commerce and Industries, Public Health Engineering, Agriculture, Horticulture, District Police, East Khasi Hills and Deputy Commissioner Office, East Khasi Hills District participated. The Commerce and Industries department won the first prize in the tableau presentation. The second and third prizes were won by the District Police and the Deputy Commissioner Office, East Khasi Hills District respectively.

The Meghalaya Day Awards 2015 were also distributed on the occasion by the Chief Guest, Prof. R. C. Laloo where U Tirot Sing Award for Art and Literature has been awarded to Reverend Dr. Overland Snaitang, while Pa Togan N Sangma Award for Social Service has been conferred to Reverend Greater Burn R Marak and U Kiang Nangbah Award for Sports has been awarded to Mrs. Bansaralin Dhar. It may be mentioned here that the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, Police Medal for Meritorious Service and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious service were also announced during the celebration. Shri Aditya Goenka, IPS, Shri T.C. Chako, MPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shri Goera T. Sangma, Sub-Inspector of Police, Shri Krishna Prasad Powdel, Sub-Inspector of Police and Shri Triplepearl Pasi, Battalion Constable were awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry. Shri Bibhuti Purkayastha, MPS, Additional Superintendent of Police and Shri Sebastian Swett, Sub-Inspector were awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Shri Satya Prasad Dutta, Sub Fire Officer and Shri Kynsaibor Roynee, Sub Fire Officer were awarded the Fire Service Medal for Meritorious service. The other highlights of the celebration include cultural programmes, fly past by the Helicopter of the Indian Air Force over the parade ground, football match, hoisting of the National flag at all Government and Private Institutions, Offices and Private residential buildings and free cinema show for children in local cinema halls. As part of the celebration, a variety programme was also held at Khyndai Lad in which Cultural dance drama, music and dance, games, food court and free entry to Wards Lake and Lady Hydari Park were organised by the District Administration.

In Tura, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma announced the ambitious plan of the government “Destination Meghalaya”, with a special thrust on education, health care, hospitality and investment on renewable natural resources to commensurate the potentialities of the State and its people. The Chief Minister was addressing the gathering after hoisting the National Flag as the chief guest at the 66th Republic Day celebration, here at the Dikki-Bandi Stadium. He also took the salute from 12 marching contingents consisting of 2nd MLP Bn, Home Guards, NCC and Scouts & Guides. He said in order to achieve the plan, investment in relevant sectors would have to be up-scaled to develop strong human resources with special focus on skilled workforce and increased vegetative coverage across the State which would not only attract investment to generate employment but also help address the environmental concerns.

While dwelling on the government’s initiatives in the education sector, the Chief Minister informed the gathering that the process for establishment of two Degree Engineering colleges have been initiated and that sanction for the permanent campus for the State’s technical university, “Captain Williamson Sangma University” was under process, adding that a project with ADB funding support has been taken up for Human Capital development. “Government will further encourage and support appropriate private investments to make Meghalaya an education destination” he added. Stressing on health sector as an important sector not only to provide access to quality healthcare for the people but also provide opportunities for young students who aspire to be in medical and para-medical professions, Dr. Sangma said that establishment of two Medical Colleges in the State and Nursing schools in all the districts was under progress, adding that establishment of super-speciality hospitals on PPP mode and promoting private investment in medical sector would help project Meghalaya as destination for healthcare facilities and medical education. The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to promote hospitality sector where the State has inherent strength and there is huge potential for generating employment opportunities for the educated youth. He spoke about the number of initiatives taken to promote tourism on a mission-mode, stressing that “the salubrious climate, the natural beauty of the State, the unique and rich cultural heritage and the youth with strong command over languages, all need to be leveraged upon to promote Meghalaya as destination for high-end tourism”. “However, there is a need to create a congenial peaceful environment to encourage the guests from outside to visit the State”, Dr. Sangma said adding that the challenges of connectivity, too has to be addressed. The Destination Meghalaya as a comprehensive and holistic development strategy will call for bigger investment for building quality roads, railways, inland water-ways and air connectivity, he said and informed that the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura Road, four-laning of Guwahati-Shillong Road, Shillong by-pass, the ADB-funded Garobadha-Dalu Road and upgradation of State highways and major roads in the districts were some major visible investments in road infrastructure. He also informed that alignment for NH-127(B) connecting Dhubri-Tura-Nongstoin, including the bridge Brahmaputra connecting Dhubri has been approved.

He also reiterated on his government’s new approach to development and said that the Meghalaya Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP) and many Missions under it have started yielding desired results. These have the potential to become a game changer in the long term and investments under these Missions will continue in convergence with all other development initiatives of the government, he added. He also informed that in consonance with Mission Organic under IBDLP, the government had initiated “Sustainable Agriculture” to usher in safe and healthy food production practices in the State. While expressing government’s commitment to address long pending, contentious issues of inter-State boundary with Assam, influx and illegal immigration, the Chief Minister also informed the gathering about the launch of new initiative, “the Inter-State Border Area Development Programme” to address the developmental needs of the people along the border. He also added that a comprehensive mechanism to effectively deal with the issue of influx would soon be put in place.

Reiterating that sustained peace and order are prerequisites for development, the Chief Minister said that there is no issue that does not lend itself to solution through meaningful engagement and reconciliation. As such, he said that in pursuance of the peace initiative of the government, the ANVC and ANVC(B) disbanded their outfits on December 15, last, adding that this peace initiative has encouraged other militant outfits also to come over ground and informed government interlocutors have been appointed to facilitate such misguided youth to join the main stream. He also called upon the people of the State to join hands with the government on the path of growth and development and appealed to the parents and guardians to guide their children inculcating in them high moral, ethical and social values. Later, the Chief Minister handed over the Lifetime Achievement Award to Rev. Fr. Batista Busolin and also conferred the certificates of appreciation and recognition to various institutions and NGOs for their clean & green campaigns under Mission Green. Other highlights of the Republic Day celebration in Tura include tableau display by 17 government departments and socio-cultural clubs, colourful cultural show, sports and games for children and Peace Concert by local bands later in the evening.

Press Release No. 45/15

CM INAUGURATES MOTOR VEHICLE SECTION OF ITI

Shillong, January 27, 2015: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma today inaugurated the ‘State of the Art’ Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) Section of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) here at Rynjah, which is a joint collaboration of Labour Department, Government of Meghalaya and Tata Motors Private Limited. The programme was organized by the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training, Labour Department, Shillong.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Dr. Sangma congratulated the department for the successful upgradation of the workshop which was started since the year 2012. He said the State of Art facility provided has been the desire and commitment of the government to empower the young and aspiring youth of the state who are capable of contributing effectively, productively for the growth of the state and the programme that is being held today is the offshoot of the commitment and endeavour undertaken for the greater interest. Dr. Sangma further said that the focus of the government is not only to empower the youth and impart skills and knowledge for gainful employment but also to enable them to attract the investors from outside the state looking for capable skilled manpower.

Dr. Sangma also added that the aim to empower youth will not only be restricted to the district capitals but will be slowly extended to all the blocks of the state which has got a catchment area of young aspiring youth. ‘This will enable and attract people from outside to come to Meghalaya as a destination’, he stated. Dr. Sangma also urged the youth of the state to take up entrepreneurship as one of the potential career and change the temperament of jobs in the region.

Mr. S Ramadorai, Chairman, National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) said that the training institute meant to serve the local youth of the region can nurture and provide various skills and knowledge which can further transform them into valuable human being of the society. He said that the upgradation of the institute will improve the employability factor of the region.

Meghalaya Labour Minister, Ms. M Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the youth of the region can avail enough opportunities provided by the service providers and excel in their career. She advised the department to lend a helping hand especially to the school dropouts, to train them and help them earn their living in future.

It may be mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed during the function by Mr. B Hajong, Director, Employment and Craftsmen Training on behalf of the Government of Meghalaya and Mr. S P Joshi, Consultant, Tata Motors for Tata Motors Private Limited.

Others who also spoke at the function were Mr. Ranjit Borthakur, Chairman, North East Advisory Council and Mr. S P Joshi, Consultant, Tata Motors. Mr. Jemino Mawthoh MLA, Mr. T Dkhar, Commissioner & Secretary, Labour, other distinguished guests, faculty ITI, students and trainees were present at the function. During the programme, Principal Secretary, Labour, Government of Meghalaya, Mr. M S Rao welcomed the gathering while Director, Employment and Craftsmen Training, Mr. B Hajong proposed the vote of thanks.