Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 722/18

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 2018 INAUGURATED

The India International Cherry Blossom Festival, 2018 organised by the Forest & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with the Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development (IBSD) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India was inaugurated today by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri. Conrad K Sangma at a programme held at Dalang Open Stage, Polo 5th Ground, Shillong. The opening ceremony of the festival was also attended by Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, Meghalaya Home Minister, Shri. James P.K Sangma, Tourism Minister, Shri. Metbah Lyngdoh, Health Minister, Shri. A.L Hek, Education Minister, Shri. Lahkmen Rymbui, Deputy Speaker, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Shri. Timothy D Shira, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. P.S Thangkhiew, Director, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Government of India, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. C.P Marak, senior government officials and others. During his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K Sangma said that Cherry Blossom Festival 2018 is being elevated to international status with the participation of the Government of Japan through its delegates while also stating that the significance of the festival goes beyond the blooming of cherry trees as it also creates a space for mutual exchange of culture and ideas. He also said that the festival has provided a platform to celebrate the autumn season and during this celebration, the festival will provide a mosaic of sports, culture and culinary delights of the State of Meghalaya, North East India and also Japan. The Chief Minister said that the Indo-Japan collaboration has taken a leap forward because of the efforts that have been made by the Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and also stated that the festival represents one of the ways of strengthening that relationship further.

The Chief Minister also said that the festival will give a big boost to tourism not just in Meghalaya but in the entire North Eastern Region and expressed hope that the state witnesses more visitors than the impressive footfall at the festival held last year. Guest of Honour, Ambassador of Japan to India , Mr.Kenji Hiramatsu meanwhile in his speech stated that the festival is symbolic of the friendship between India and Japan and provides a channel for people to people and cultural exchanges between India and Japan which will in turn promote stronger bonds between the two countries. During the programme, the Chief Minister also handed over the Meghalaya Entrepreneurship Recognition Award (MEG-ERA) to Shri. Perastill R Sangma, an entrepreneur from Garo Hills. The award consists of a citation and a cash award of one lakh rupees. On the occasion, the Chief Minister along with the other dignitaries also visited the stalls put up at the venue by various Government Departments and entrepreneurs. The inaugural day of the Four day festival featured events including Sky Diving, Painting and Drawing Competition, Dog Show, Story Telling, Fashion show and Cutie kids competition among others.

Press Release No. 723/18

OBSERVATION OF THE 65TH ALL INDIA CO-OPERATIVE WEEK 2018 AT SOHRA CIVIL SUB DIVISION

The weeklong celebration of the 65th All India Cooperative Week 2018 on the main theme “Inclusive Growth and Good Governance through Cooperatives for Rural Prosperity” got underway at Sohra Civil Sub-Division at the Community Hall, Mawsmai on the 14th of November 2018. The programme is being organized by the Office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong and the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd in collaboration with all the State Level Cooperative Federations. The topic for the day was “Cooperative Marketing, Processing and Storage”. The programme was chaired by Smt. M. Buhphang, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong and it was attended by members of various cooperative societies operating within the region. Shri B. S. Majaw, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Charge Planning Branch, Shillong was the resource person for deliberations on the Main theme of the celebration. He highlighted that in the week long celebration, the Office will lay stress on how overall development in a region can be achieved through the proper implementation of activities undertaken by Cooperative Societies thereby uplifting the economic condition of the place. He informed the gathering that in spite of the fact Sohra being an important tourist destination in the state and the country as a whole, there were very few cooperative societies working on tourism related activities in the region. He stressed that the people of the region, in particular the educated unemployed youth, should make the effort to come together, register themselves as Cooperative Societies and take up tourism related activities in the region and to utilize the advantages of being in such a Society. He said that it is a difficult task for one person alone to carry out any activity but in working together as a Cooperative Society, the rate of success is more than likely to be higher. Cooperative Societies yield better results and improves the financial condition and livelihood of the people which facilitates towards the progress and development of the society. Another advantage of a Cooperative society is that Loans are easier to avail from Banks. Further, the department is very keen in offering assistance to people who want to register and also helps out these societies from time to time through different trainings, workshops, motivational programmes etc.

In his address, Shri P. Mawkhiew, President, Meghalaya State Cooperative Union Ltd., Shillong, expressed his gratitude to the organisers for conducting such a programme. He informed that in East Khasi Hills District including Sohra there are 300 registered Cooperative Societies formed by people residing in different villages. However, he lamented that, in some of these societies, the growth was either very slow or remained stagnant. He urged the people present in particular the members from different Societies to work together so as to achieve the objective of the theme and bring about sustainable development and employment to the region. Later, Shri T. Kharshiing, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong handed over the Veteran Co-operator Award for the year 2017-18 to Shri Tharon Khongstid, Adviser to the Pynursla Sub Area Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd. and the 4th State Level Cooperative Excellence Award for the year 2017-18 was given to Departmental Cooperative Consumer Store, R. R. Colony, Shillong. The programme also saw deliberations on the topic of the day where Shri M. C. Suchiang, Sub Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Sohra spoke on Processing and Cooperative Marketing & Storage. A session on Cooperative Movement in the District was taken by Smt. F. F. Syiem, Sub Registrar of Cooperative Societies, East Khasi Hills District. Earlier, a message from Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President of the National Cooperative Union of India was read out by Smt. P. Nongrum, Junior Cooperative Officer, Shillong. Shri J. Syiemiong, Branch Manager, Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., Sohra Branch delivered the vote of thanks.

Press Release No. 726/18

AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON EVM AND VVPAT HELD

As a run up to the National Press Day on 16th November 2018, Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya in collaboration with the Shillong Press Club held a Panel Discussion today, the 14th November titled ‘More Clarity and Light on EVM and VVPAT’ as part of the EVM-VVPAT awareness initiative. Amongst the panelists was the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya, Shri F. R. Kharkongor, Prof. R. K. Satpathy, Political Science Department, NEHU and Shri Allantry F. Dkhar, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister and Vice-President of United Democratic Party. Moderating the Panel Discussion was Padmashree Manas Choudhary, former Journalist and former Minister. The purpose of the Discussion was to generate clearer understanding to the general public in the state of Meghalaya through the media on the credibility, transparency and verifiability of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The Press and Media in general have continued to play a very balanced and constructive role in disseminating information on EVM-VVPAT in the State and in the country as a whole. Such support from the media fraternity is still urgently required to remove the curtain of doubt surrounding EVMVVPAT in some quarters. While the panelists who are for VVPAT have expressed their views referring how EVMs and VVPATs have changed the nature and speed of the Electoral Process. Election administration has become faster, more accurate, more voter-friendly and more reliable. Besides, unlike Nederland and other European countries where legal sanction for such machines was non-existent, India has the legal sanctity including technical and administrative safeguards. The panelists who questioned the functioning of the VVPAT noted that while EVMs are an improvement over the ballot paper system, more safeguards are required. As the challenges pointed out were more on account of human error and not necessarily related to EVMVVPAT. In Meghalaya, the story has been widely positive as EVMs and VVPATs have been well received by the public in general, evident in nil election related petitions in the last Assembly Elections. The panelist shared their different opinions on EVM-VVPAT and concluded that public awareness was required in the coming days to dispel any doubts. During the programme, the dignitaries released the Press Kit and the Live Product Demonstration of EVM and VVPAT was also presented to the participants to get firsthand knowledge of the functioning of the EVM and VVPAT. Additional CEO, Meghalaya, Shri R. P. Marak and President, Shillong Press Club, Shri David Laitphlang was also present at the programme.