Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 610/11

2-DAY HEALTH MELA 2011 INAUGURATED AT MAWRYNGKNENG

Shillong, 14th November 2011: Shri R. Lyngdoh, Deputy Chief Minister i/c Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya inaugurated the two day Health Mela 2011 held at Mawryngkneng. The function organized by the National Rural Health Mission in collaboration with the Office of the District Medical and Health Officer, East Khasi Hills District was also attended by Shri C. Pyngrope, Speaker who is also the Local MLA of Sohrynkham Constituency, Shri M. Kharpran , MDC, Shri. K. Kharsati, local head, Dr. A. Das, Director, MI, officials and staff from the Health Department, NRHM and many more.

Addressing the gathering, Shri R. Lyngdoh expressed his gratitude to the local MLA, MDC, local heads, Officers and Staff of the Health Department, NRHM and everyone gathered at the function for their support. He stated that Health Melas will benefit many and create health awareness among the people of the area besides providing medicines. He further highlighted the high rate of maternal deaths in the state which stands second in the country and stated that the State government and even the central are trying their level best to boost health services and institutes in the State.

Speaking in the occasion, Shri C. Pyngrope lauded the efforts of the staff, officers, ASHA of the Health Department, local heads for joining hands in organizing the Health Mela which would benefit the people of the area greatly. He highlighted the drawback of the area as far as Health is concern and stated that such Melas will help give local people an opportunity to access and acquire Health heck ups and many more.

A huge number of people including women and children visited the Health Mela to avail free services for their ailments related to Medicine, Dentistry, Homeopathy, ENT, and many more. The awareness stall distributed pamphlets which provided awareness to the people on the ways to protect them from various ailments, diseases and family planning.

Press Release No. 612/11

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHED AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR THE STATE AQUACULTURE MISSION AT SELSELLA

Shillong, November 10, 2011: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma today launched the Awareness Campaign for the State Aquaculture Mission at Selsella, West Garo Hills District in the presence of the Power Minister, Mr A T Mondal, C&RD Minister, Mr Saleng Sangma, Chief Secretary, Mr W M S Pariat, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Sayeedulah Nongrum and Commissioner & Secretary, Fisheries Department, Mr K N Kumar among others.

The main objective of the programme is to create awareness among the people about the Aquaculture Mission which is one of the flagship programmes of the State Government proposed to be launched in 2012. The campaign is aimed at encouraging the people to take up fish farming as one of the prospective employment opportunities besides contributing towards the economy of the State and also improve their livelihood.

Dr Mukul while speaking on the occasion, stressed on the need for the people to extend their cooperation with the government so that the intention of the government in improving the economy of the rural areas is achieved. He said that the Government is making serious efforts to ensure that opportunities in the rural areas are made more attractive. He said that the State Aquaculture Mission is one of the programmes of the Government to provide opportunities to the people especially in the rural areas to be self sufficient.

Dr Mukul also informed that such awareness campaign will also be held in other parts of the State wherein interested fish farmer will be enrolled so that they can avail the schemes meant for promoting Aquaculture.

Dr Mukul also inaugurated the Multi Facility Centre at Selsella constructed by the C&RD Department about which he said that it should be utilized in sensitizing the people about the plans and schemes of the Government among other programmes.

Among others who spoke on the occasion were Power Minister, Mr A T Mondal, C&RD Minister, Mr Saleng Sangma, Chief Secretary, Mr W M S Pariat, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Sayeedulah Nongrum and Commissioner & Secretary, Fisheries Department, Mr K N Kumar.

Earlier in the day, Dr Mukul Sangma also laid the foundation stone of the Tura MPSC Cell at Dakopgre, Tura in the presence of C&RD Minister, Mr Saleng Sangma, Chief Secretary, Mr WMS Pariat and the Chairman of the MPSC, Mr A K Tigidi among others. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mukul said that with the presence of the MPSC cell in Tura, job seekers and aspirants will no longer have to go to Shillong when they apply for any job advertised by the MPSC. He said that efforts are also being made to facilitate online submission of forms so as to ease the problems of the aspirants.

Press Release No. 613/11

WIMAX LAUNCHED AT AMPATI

Shillong, November 10, 2011: The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul M Sangma inaugurated the Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access at the Ampati Sub Divisional Office(Civil).

Addressing the gathering Dr Sangma said that WiMAX is the latest technology being deployed for high speed data connection for long distances. The term stands for Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access. WiMAX is basically a type of certification given to an equipment supplier by WiMAX forum.

The two driving forces of modern communication are broadband and wireless. The WiMAX standard combines the two, delivering high-speed broadband Internet access over a wireless connection. Because it can be used over relatively long distances, it is an effective last mile solution for delivering broadband to the home and for creating wireless hot spots in places like airports, college campuses, schools, small communities, hotels, etc.

Mr D.P.Singh, Chief General Manager, BSNL, addressing the gathering informed that the present WiMAX installation would benefit the people of Ampati in general and the people of Garo Hills in particular. He said that another 32 locations were being identified for installation of WiMAX. He later urged the people of the region to avail of the facility.

Press Release No. 614/11

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHED SHIKSHA KA HAQ ABHIYAN

Shillong, November 11, 2011: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma today launched the ‘Shiksha Ka Haq Abhiyan’, the community awareness & mobilization campaign on Right to Education Act, 2009 at Chandmari playground, Tura in the presence of C&RD Minister, Mr Saleng Sangma, Chief Secretary, Mr W M S Pariat, Secretary, Education Department, Mr F R Kharkongor among others.

The launching of the campaign appropriately coincides with the National Education Day observed on the Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of Independent India who was an intellectual par excellence. The corner stone of his education policy was his conviction that democracy cannot function without the eradication of illiteracy which is reflected in the National Policy on Education. He emphasized on educating the rural poor especially girls and also universal primary education free and compulsory for all children upto the age of 14.

The vision of Maulana Azad was achieved with the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsary Education Act, 2009 which makes education a fundamental right of every child between the age of 6 and 14. Under the Act it requires all private schools to reserve 25 percent of seats to children from poor families which will be reimbursed by the State as part of the public private partnership plan. It also prohibits all unrecognized schools from practice and makes provision for no donation or capitation fees and no interview of the child or parent for admission. The Act also provides that no child shall be held back, expelled or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education among other provisions.

Speaking at the launching of the awareness campaign on Right to Education Act, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma said that the awareness campaign will enlightened the people especially the parents and the policy makers about the provisions of the Right to Education Act and also will enable the State Government to gear up for the implementation of the Right in the State taking into consideration the different aspects of the Act and its implications.

Dr Mukul Sangma said that the three major issues of education in the State is access, equity and quality which needs to addressed in a holistic manner to ensure that the system of education and research not only contribute to nation building but also create a knowledgeable society with values of sustainability.

Dr Mukul also informed that in order to institutionalize implementation of the RTE Act, posts of Joint Directors of School Education have been created in each and every district, mapping of schools by GIS mapping covering a total of 12794 schools all over the State. He also informed that as a quality improvement initiative, No detention policy has been notified and continuous and comprehensive evaluation is being introduced in all schools. He also said that teacher recruitment policy is being revised as per the National Council of Teachers Education and that all teachers need to be trained and VRS is being offered to untrainable teachers.

Dr Mukul said that the RTE rules set minimum standard for infrastructure facilities in schools which is the biggest challenge for the State. He also informed that the State Government is committed to make all schools compliant with the standards and affirm that the child centered RTE will be fully implemented in the State of Meghalaya by 2013. Dr Mukul expresses confidence that with the RTE in place, it will enable the parents to equip their children with the right instrument to face the era of globalization which is competitive in all respects. “We should create an enabling environment for our children and the parents have a very important role to play in developing the skills and knowledge of their children and make them compatible with the change”, he added. Among others who spoke on the occasion were, Chief Secretary, Mr W M S Pariat and Secretary, Education Department, Mr F R Kharkongor. A message from the Prime Minister on the occasion was also read out to the people.

Press Release No. 615/11

CHIEF MINISTER DEDICATED 20 HECTARE FISH POND TO THE COMMUNITY OF KUMALIGAON

Shillong, November 11, 2011: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, today, dedicated 20 hectare fish pond to the community of Kumaligaon under Ampati sub division. The project is funded under the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) and implemented by the Department of Fisheries.

The projected yield from the pond is 20 metric tonnes per annum. The pond has generated Rs6 lakhs during the previous fiscal year and is estimated to generate around 25 lakhs this year.

Dr Mukul while speaking on the occasion, stressed on the need for the people to extend their cooperation with the government so that the intention of the government in improving the economy of the rural areas is achieved. He said that the Government is making serious efforts to ensure that opportunities in the rural areas are made more attractive. He said that the State Aquaculture Mission is one of the programmes of the Government to provide opportunities to the people especially in the rural areas to be self sufficient.

Dr Mukul expresses confidence that the fish pond will generate income for the community of Kumaligoan and he said that it will be a model village in which fish farming is success story and a reliable source of income generation.

Dr Sangma said that participation of the community is essential for even growth of the state in all aspects. He stressed on the need of the community to actively participate as partners with the government in its endeavor to promote the rural economy and make it more attractive to the people.

Later in the day Dr Sangma inaugurated the Sensitization and Mobilization programme of the Aquaculture mission at Ampati College in which he reiterated that such awareness campaign will also be held in other parts of the State wherein interested fish farmers will be enrolled so that they can avail the schemes meant for promoting Aquaculture.

Press Release No. 616/11

HUNDRED DRUMS WANGALA FESTIVAL ENDS ON A COLOURFUL NOTE

Shillong, November 12, 2011: The 34th Hundred Drums Wangala Festival of the Garos came to a close today evening on a colourful note at Asanang, 18 kms from Tura, with the beats of 100 drums reverberating through the air, even as the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma, who attended as the chief guest, stressed on the need to preserve the rich traditional and moral values for development of tourism sector in the region.

The last and final day of the three-day Wangala festival was also attended by Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Power Minister A.T. Mondal, Parliamentary Secretary Francis Pondit Sangma besides other dignitaries, tourists, researchers and media persons from the state and outside.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr. Sangma lauded the Hundred Drums Wangala Committee members for their efforts at preserving the tradition and culture of the Garos through dances, etc and said that the famous Rio Carnival was also started in the same way back in 1940, which has now become one of the biggest festivals in the world. Likewise, he said that Wangala festival, too, can be promoted to a grand scale, if we can market it properly. Lamenting on the eroding traditional and moral values among the people today, Dr. Sangma stressed the need to preserve and follow the traditional and good moral values of our ancestors, adding that, culture and tradition do not confine only to songs and dances.

“We must strive to make Garo Hills known for good reasons and not for the wrong reasons”, he added.

In the morning the Sa’sat so’a ceremony was performed by the Nokma of Sadolpara village followed by Dani Doka before the actual Wangala festivities began. Besides the 10 dancing troupes from various parts of Garo Hills, this year too, the Wangala troupe from neighbouring Bangladesh also participated in the festival and displayed their version of the Wangala dance.

This year, the Wangala troupe from Gonda Chibolgre village of Tikrikilla block, the first-time participants in the 100-Drums Wangala Festival were adjudged the winner of the Wangala dance competition and walked away with Rs.15,000 cash prize, while the Sadolpara troupe from Dadenggre sub-division and Agisimgre troupe from Rongram Block were declared the first and second runners-up, respectively. The cash prizes were sponsored by Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, who also put up a skit to create mass awareness on HIV/AIDS during the Festival.

It may be mentioned here, that the Wangala is the most important post-harvest festival of the Garos and is a thanksgiving ceremony to “Misi Saljong” and Minima Rokkime, also known as the Great Giver. The Wangala is still practiced in some non-Christian villages in the months of October and November. With the advance of modern civilization, Wangala, the cultural identity of the Garos was seen to be slowly disappearing. Hence in order to preserve, protect and promote the cultural identity of the Garos, a group of intellectual leaders got together to form the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee and decided to organize the Wangala Festival on modern lines. A dancing troupe of 30 persons with ten drums forms a contingent and 10 such contingents with 300 dancers made up the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival. The Festival was first started in the year 1976 at Asanang, the headquarters of Rongram C&RD block and since then the Festival has grown from time to time, promoted by the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee and supported by the Government of Meghalaya. The Chief Minister also visited the stalls at District Level Industrial Exhibition organized simultaneously by the District Commerce and Industries Centre, Tura as part of the 100-Drums Wangala Festival. Altogether 40 stalls were put up in the exhibition by entrepreneurs as well as government departments, including one unit from Bangladesh. While visiting the stalls in the exhibition accompanied by the officials from the Industries department, Dr.Sangma expressed concern that though the products displayed and put up for sale by the entrepreneurs were impressive, they lacked market value as the finishing of the craft products and the packaging of food products were poor. He therefore instructed the Industries department officials to draw up skill up-gradation programme and engage master craftsmen to train the entrepreneurs so that their products would have greater market value and demand. Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Rongram Multi-Facility Centre which has been constructed under RSVY scheme adjacent to the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival venue at Asanang.

Press Release No. 617/11

CM LAUNCHED THE SPECIAL PLAN ASSISTANCE SCHEME ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN TURA

Shillong, November 12, 2011: ‘Be cautious and alert to any misinformed campaign against the government which has derailed many programmes of the government’ said the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul Sangma while launching the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) Scheme ‘Addressing Traffic Congestion in Tura’ today, at Tura Bazar Council Round Building. The programme was also attended by Minister C& RD, Mr. Saleng A Sangma, Minister for Power, Mr. A T Mondal, CEM, GHADC, Mr. P K Sangma beside others

Present at the occasion as the chief guest, Dr. Sangma in his address to the gathering expressed happiness to respond to the needs and perceived expectations of the people and conceptualise the action. He said that Tura deserves a better attention from all their leaders as it is the socio political capital of Garo Hills and an epicenter of socio political activity. Keen to address the issues related to Tura, traffic congestion being one of the major issues, he informed that the scheme will address the problem to a considerable extent. He further said that work was under way to construct a parking lot at Akongre and Tura By-Pass with the National Highway 51 being expanded and completed. He assured that the scheme for Tura urban would be completed with no escalation and time overrun. To further ease traffic congestion and cater to the transportation needs of the people he informed that Public Transport System with 10 buses would be introduced in Tura before Christmas.

He expressed concern at the issue of unemployed youth who may be misused and misled, hence it was imperative for the Government to provide opportunities for the youth. The Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme a flagship programme of the Government with its five missions of Tourism, Aquaculture, Weaving and Sericulture, Livestock and Horticulture would create an enabling environment for the youth and the people in general to partner with the Government and promote the Unique Selling Points (USPs) of the State. He further urged upon the people to be optimistic, vigilant and work hand in hand with the Government for overall development of the State.

Others who spoke at the occasion were, Minister C& RD, Mr. Saleng A Sangma, Minister for Power, Mr. A T Mondal, CEM, GHADC, Mr. P K Sangma beside others.

It may be mentioned here that the project ‘Addressing Traffic Congestion in Tura’ aimed at widening and strengthening the existing pavements, construction of retaining walls, construction of solid footpath with tiles finishing and railing, construction of parking bays and waiting sheds. The project has been sanctioned at Rs. 16.5 crores under the State Plan for the year 2010-11.

Press Release No. 618/11

MEGHALAYA PAVILION AT IITF-2011 INAUGURATED

Shillong, November 14, 2011: The Meghalaya Pavilion in the 31st India International Trade Fair- 2011 being held from 14th to 27th November, 2011 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi was today inaugurated by Shri A T Mondal, Meghalaya Minister of Information and Public Relations in the presence of the Commissioner and Secretary, Information & Public Relations, Dr. P Shakil Ahammed,IAS, senior State Government Officials and Entrepreneurs participating in the IITF-2011.

The theme for the IITF 2011 is “ India Handicraft, the magic of gifted Hands” and it may be mentioned that earlier in the day the IITF-2011 was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

The Departments participating in the India International Trade Fair-2011 at the Meghalaya Pavilion includes Agriculture, Horticulture, Commerce & Industries, Tourism, Forest, Soil & Water Conservation, Cooperative Societies, MHHDC, MKVIB and DIPR as the nodal Department. Apart from Government Departments there are 26 entrepreneurs from various part the State who participated in the Fair for promotion and display of their indigenous products.