Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 455/10

DIAMOND JUBILEE OF ELECTION COMMISSION TO BE CELEBRATED IN WEST KHASI HILLS

Shillong, October 5, 2010: As part of the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the Election Commission of India, the organizing committee of West Khasi Hills District will organize a series of competitions for students and the public of the District on issues relating to elections in the country. The competition includes essay writing, debate, quiz, singing, drawing and painting and running for free, fair and peaceful elections.

The competition is open to all, except in singing competition which will be restricted to the students from the college and schools of the District. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners in the above competition will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 10,000/-, Rs. 8,000/- and Rs. 6,000/- respectively.

Detailed information can be obtained from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District, Nongstoin on all working days.

Press Release No. 456/10

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ON CERAMIC MEMBRANE-BASED WATER PURIFICATION HELD

Shillong, October 5, 2010: The Entrepreneurship Development Programme on Ceramic Membrane-Based Water Purification was held today, the 5th October, 2010 at the District Library, Jowai. The programme was organized by the State Council of Science, Technology and Environment (SCSTE) Meghalaya in collaboration with Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Kolkata and District Planning Officer, Jaintia Hills.

While delivering his speech as the Chief Guest, the Deputy Commissioner of the District, Mr. T Dkhar lauded the effort of the State Council for organizing such a programme for the benefit of the people of the area. He said that nearly all the rivers and streams are highly polluted and needs treatment for purification before drinking. Therefore, he said that this technology is very much required to install in various parts of the district to ensure safe drinking water.

Others who delivered lecture included Dr. Sibdas Bandhyopadhyay, CGCRI Kolkata, Dr. Subrata Dasgupta, CGCRI Kolkata and Mr. A R Basu, M/s Entech Metal Pvt. Ltd. (CGCRI Licensee).

Press Release No. 457/10

MS. MAWLONG TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY IN THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG WOMANS FORUM

Shillong, October 5, 2010: The State Secretary, Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides has informed that the sent-off meeting organized in favour of Miss Felicia Mawlong will be held on October 8, 2010 at 2:00 PM at the new office of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, Shillong.

It may be mentioned that Ms. Mawlong will represent the country’s Bharat Scouts and Guides in the International Young Woman’s Forum to be held at Heythrop Park in the United Kingdom on October 19-24, 2010.

Press Release No. 458/10

DELEGATION OF ADB HELD MEETING WITH STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Shillong, October 5, 2010: As a follow up to the proposal submitted by the Government of Meghalaya to the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India for “Assistance for Meghalaya Public Resource Management” under Programme Loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB), a delegation of ADB led by Mr Bruno Carrasco, Director, Financial Sector, Public Management and Trade Division, Mr Hiranya Mukhopadhyay, Economist Fiscal Management and Mr Shamit Chakraborty, Senior Programme Officer, ADB visited Shillong and held series of meetings with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials of Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Education and Industries and Commerce departments since yesterday.

The delegation finally held a meeting today with the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and other senior officials and finalized on the programmes and schemes to be supported by the ADB.

Innovative Universal Health Insurance Programme in the Health Sector, Programme to support Non-Government schools and Teachers Social Security in education, Debt Management Reforms, Facilitation of International Trade and Commerce and overall Fiscal Management Reforms were identified to be taken up on priority basis.

A technical consultant team of ADB for Programme design and other related policy reforms required for institutional strengthening etc to ensure sustainability of the programme will start visiting and working from the month of November this year. The detail project proposal will be ready by February 2011 which also will indicate quantum of fund required for each component of the programme.

The programme which has been one of the pet projects of the Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma and being aggressively followed up is expected to help the State in keeping its commitment to provide quality health services, on a sustainable basis, to all section of the people across the State. Similarly Government will be able to address the problems of ever increasing expenditure on Education by formulating an appropriate, innovative and sustainable programme.

The concept revolves around creating of corpus fund to generate the fund required to support this sector. Debt Management Reforms as part of Fiscal Management Reforms will help the Government to bring down outflow of fund by replacing the high interest debt of the State Government while the other aspect of fiscal reforms shall increase realization of both Tax and Non-Tax Revenue.