Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 169/23

LAY BY MARKET INAUGURATED AT UPPER DAMALGRE

The much awaited Lay by Market at Upper Damalgre under Rerapara C and RD Block of South West Garo Hills was inaugurated today by Rangsakona MLA Subir M. Marak at an impressive inaugural function organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Directorate of Horticulture in the market premises on Thursday.

The Lay By Market having 24 stalls and two community halls with two separate toilet facilities for males and females was constructed at a cost of Rs. 72.51 lakh under SPA 2013-2014 sanctioned under Horticulture Department and implemented through DRDA.

The inaugural program was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ampati, Yoshima W.Momin, BDO, Rerapara Block, Armand Ch. Momin, Nokma of Damalgre, officials of various line departments, members of the Lay By Market and the public of the area besides the district officials of Horticulture and Agriculture departments.

In his inaugural address, the Rangsakona MLA said he was privileged to inaugurate the permanent infrastructure for the local farmers with storage facilities where they can sell their agro-horti products directly to the customers without having to depend on middlemen. He urged the farmers to not only take advantage of this asset for their benefit but also protect and maintain the same. He expressed hope that this Lay By Market would become a place of economic growth and development for both the farmers and customers, as well as the people of the area in general.

Subir Sangma also suggested to the people of the area that they shift the weekly market of Upper Damalgre to this newly inaugurated infrastructure which can serve them not only as weekly market but as a regular market so that they can make optimum use of this asset.

Earlier, the DHO, Ampati, Damayansha Nongkhlaw while highlighting about the construction of the lay by market and its objectives, said that the infrastructure would serve as a common platform for marketing the indigenous and entrepreneurial products of the farmers, producers, SHGs and villagers of Damalgre area and adjoining villages.

ADC, Ampati, Y.W.Momin, ADH (G), Ampati, B.Ch. Marak, ADH (Mkt), Ampati, B.R. Sangma and Secretary of the Lay By Market Committee, Silje Ch. Marak were among others who also addressed the gathering, while the youths and children presented song and dance to mark the occasion.

Press Release No. 170/23

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF MBOSE CONCLUDES

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that the youth are the greatest assets and resource of the State and Government is committed to ensure that the potential of the youth is harnessed to its optimum. It is our duty as a Government to ensure that we keep the youngsters right at the centre of what we are trying to do for our State… sometimes Government focuses too much on scheme based governance, scheme based governance is a very, very narrow way of looking at things because when you look at a scheme, you only want to implement the scheme, and you don’t understand the purpose of implementing the scheme. However, we keep the youth in front of us and make the decision, he said. It is the responsibility of all the stakeholders involved to play their part in ensuring that every young person is nurtured and guided to become productive, committed, patriotic, discipline and God fearing Citizens, he said while addressing at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE).

The three day grand celebration of the MBoSE which concluded today was also attended by Education Minister, Rakkam A Sangma, Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang, amongst other dignitaries and officials from different parts of the State.

Meghalaya is a small State as compared to other states in the country like Uttar Pradesh, so, in order for the State to be at the crest of success and development, we have to make sure that we produce quality personnel in order to compete and contribute for the growth and development of the State, he remarked, while enlightening the gathering on the State’s ambitious plan to be amongst the Top 10 states in the country. Acknowledging the contributions of the founder and the leaders, who despite several challenge had conceptualised to start the board in 1973, while the State was young after being carved out of Assam. I would like to pay tribute to all our leaders who have sacrificed a lot to make life changing decisions with numerous challenges as well as with limited resources at that time, to make MBOSE reach such a milestone. It is indeed a momentous occasion and would like to congratulate everyone who have made it possible for MBOSE to celebrate 50 years of its functioning and existence, he added.

Talking about numerous challenge in the education sector, he said The education sector is currently facing numerous challenges but it should not deter us to strive to make our education sector one of the topmost in the country. We have initiated intervention to better the infrastructure and learning curve in the elementary as well as higher secondary section. He further urged all the stakeholders involved including administrators, teachers, students and especially parents to strive developing young persons who are nurtured and guided to become productive.

Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma, said, There is no precise device to measure the quality of an individual other than through education. I look forward to the leadership of our Chief Minister in furthering the development of education in the State.

Chief Secretary D. P. Wahlang, said, The journey of MBoSE has been a long like a football match. At halftime MBoSE was restructured in 2006 since its inception in 1973. Now at 2023, we are celebrating 50 years. The first board exam of MBoSE took place in 1974 and less than 3800 examinees and has had a quantum jump more than 80,000 both in the metric and class XII exams.

He further pointed that our literacy rate changed dramatically from 24.49 pecent to 80 percent till date with the increase in educational institutions from 40-50 to 2923 schools affiliated to MBOSE of which 18166 are secondary schools and 421 are higher secondary schools.