Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 142/24

WORKSHOP ON ELIMINATION OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS HELD

The office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, MSPCB, Shillong on Monday, 11 November 2024, organized a workshop on the Elimination of Identified Single Use Plastics at the Conference Hall, Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat. The workshop, aimed at generating awareness among all concerned stakeholders, featured two sessions. The first session was organized for District Heads representing different Government Departments, while the second session was held for Traditional Heads, restaurant owners, local vendors, and distributors of East Jaintia Hills District.

The workshop was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Smt. J. U. Kharpuri, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, DRDA, East Jaintia Hills District, Shri Gautam Warjri, Assistant Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Smti. F. Wann, Environmental Engineer, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong, Shri Y. F. Laloo, Assistant Environmental Engineer, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong, Smti. R. R. Marak, and others.

In her address during the workshop, Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Smti. J. U. Kharpuri emphasized the importance of collective effort and community involvement in eliminating Identified Single Use Plastics, stressing that the issue is of critical importance for environmental conservation.

During the workshop, resource persons from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong, discussed various aspects related to the issue, including the types of plastics, the banned plastics such as petro based plastic carry bags less than 120 microns, non woven plastic carry bags less than 60 GSM, plastic sheets that are not an integral part of multilayered packaging, and plastic covers used for packaging and wrapping commodities, including cling film, stretch film, and plastic cutlery like plates, cups, glasses, straws, stirrers, forks, knives, etc.

Other topics discussed during the one-day workshop included Extended Producer Responsibility EPR, identification, labelling, marking, the provision of Plastic Waste Management Rules, and the responsibility of local bodies.

Press Release No. 143/24

MEGHALAYA LAUNCHES BUILDING YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM AT AMPATI

In an inspiring initiative aimed at nurturing future leaders, the “Building Young Leaders: Empowering Adolescent Boys and Girls with Transformational Life Skills” program took a significant step forward on Monday. Hosted at St. Claret Higher Secondary School, Ampati, South West Garo Hills, the event honored the progress made through this initiative by celebrating students, teachers, and facilitators. Distinguished guests included Crystal Ripamchi N. Sangma, BDO of Betasing C&RD Block, who served as the Chief Guest, and Taposh Ch Marak, SEO from the Office of the Jt. DSEL, Tura, who attended as the Guest of Honour. The program was chaired by Ms. June Hannifer Warbah, Program Coordinator at the Meghalaya Institute of Governance.

The program’s foundation lies in empowering teachers first, training them on core life skills so they can, in turn, mentor students at their respective schools. Teachers who participated in this training were encouraged to introduce topics like self-awareness, confidence, communication, decision-making, assertiveness, sexual rights, health and hygiene, and intergenerational dialogue into their classrooms. By doing so, they are enabling young people to build confidence, improve communication, and foster a sense of self and purpose.

To measure the impact, the program conducts regular monitoring and evaluation to assess students’ understanding and confirm that classes are actively being conducted. Monday's event also provided a platform for teachers and students to share their experiences and reflections on the life skills they’ve learned.

In acknowledgment of their dedication, students were celebrated with a felicitation ceremony, recognizing them as ambassadors of the program, encouraging their peers to embrace these transformational skills.

The Meghalaya Institute of Governance, headed by Aiban Swer, Director, with support from educational institutions and Government of Meghalaya, is pleased to see the program’s reach expand across Meghalaya. Having started this year with Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions for teachers, the program is already impacting adolescents statewide. As more young leaders emerge, the Institute remains committed to fostering an environment that encourages leadership, confidence, and resilience in the youth of Meghalaya.