Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 864/06

PRICE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

The Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Meghalaya, Shillong has informed that the following are the wholesale price (in quintals/bag/tin) and the retail price (in kg/litre) of essential commodities as on November 15, 2006

The wholesale price of Rice is Rs. 1060/1120 (Common), Rs. 1160/1200 (Fine) and Rs. 1320/1700 (Packet Parimal) while the retail price per kg is Rs. 12.00 (Common), Rs. 12.50/Rs.13.00 (Fine) and Rs. 14.00/Rs. 18.00 (Packet Parimal). The wholesale price of Atta is Rs. 1260/1270 and Maida is Rs. 14000/1420 and the retail price per kg of Atta is Rs. 15.50/16.00 and Maida is Rs. 17.00. While the wholesale price of Gramdal is Rs. 3850/Rs.4000, the retail price per kg is Rs. 40.00/44.00 per kg. For Turdal, the wholesale price is Rs. 2800/3000 (Ahar), Rs. 2425/Rs. 3000 (Masur) and Rs. 4050/4500 (Moong), and the retail price per kg is Rs. 32.00/Rs. 36.00 (Arhar), Rs. 27.00/Rs. 32.00 (Masur) and Rs. 45.00/Rs. 50.00 (Moong).The wholesale price of Urad (Whole) is Rs.4100/4400 and the retail price is Rs.44.00/46.00. The wholesale price of Urad Dal is Rs.5000/5300 and the retail price is Rs. 54.00/56.00. The wholesale price of Sugar is Rs. 1980/Rs. 2020 per quintal, the retail price is Rs. 21.00/Rs. 22.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Mustard Oil is Rs. 680/Rs. 710 per tin, the retail price is Rs. 57.00/Rs 72.00 per litre. The wholesale price of Vanaspati oil is Rs. 740/Rs. 820 per tin, the retail price is Rs. 54.00/Rs. 62.00 per litre. The wholesale price of Tea is Rs. 100/Rs. 150 (loose) and Rs. 120.00/Rs. 170.00 (packet), the retail price is Rs. 120.00/170.00 (loose) and Rs. 160.00/Rs. 196.00 (packed) per kg. The wholesale price of Potato is Rs. 700/Rs. 1,100 per bag, the retail price is Rs. 09.00/Rs. 15.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Onion is Rs. 700/Rs. 1,100 per bag, the retail price is Rs. 09.00/Rs. 14.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Salt is Rs. 150/Rs. 190 (loose) and Rs. 160/Rs. 385 (packet), the retail price is Rs. 04.00/Rs. 05.00 per kg (loose) and Rs. 07.00/Rs. 09.00 (packet). The wholesale price of Gur is Rs. 1200/Rs. 1800, the retail price is Rs. 20.00/Rs 26.00 per kg and while the wholesale price of Milk (Toned milk) is Rs. 28.50 per litre, the retail price is Rs. 30.00 per litre.

Press Release No. 865/06

TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR STAFF SELECTION EXAMINATION

The Coaching-cum-Guidance Centre (CGC) for SC/ST, Shillong will conduct a 10 days Training Programme for SC/ST Candidates preparing to appear in the Staff Selection Commission Section Officer (Audit) Exam, 2006 to be held on December 10, 2006.

The 10 days training Programme will commence on November 24, 2006. Candidates interested to attend the programme may bring the Staff Selection Commission Admit Card or Post Card bearing their Roll No. to the CGC at Hopkinson Road, Lower Lachumiere, Shillong on or before November 24, 2006.

Press Release No. 866/06

IRIN INAUGURATED NEW DRDA OFFICE BUILDING AT TURA

Meghalaya C&RD Minister Mrs. Irin Lyngdoh formally inaugurated the newly constructed District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Office building –cum-SHG Training Centre at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Tura in the presence of the local MLA Billykid Sangma, members of the Agency’s governing body, district officials and SHGs on November 14, 2006.

This will be the first such building of the Agency in the State, as almost all the DRDA offices in the districts are attached to the DC’s office or are functioning from rented building.

Dedicating the new building to the people of Garo Hills, Mrs. Lyngdoh in her address as the chief guest, said that this building would especially benefit the self –help –groups (SHGs) of the area in the SGSY programmes. She hoped that that the output if the Agency’s employees would increase greatly with this upgradation, adding that the Agency would to leave any stone unturned in its work for the welfare of the rural people.

Local MLA Billykid Sangma said that the people of the area need facilities like the training centre and urged upon the people to put the newly asset to good use, while the Secretary and Director, C&RD, Mrs. M.H.K.Marak invited other departments in the district make use of the training centre for various programmes.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman, DRDA, Tura Mr. P. Sampath Kumar, who had been instrumental in getting the construction of the building done in a very short time, in his welcome address, said that this facility was intended to enhance the functioning of the Agency. The programme was presided over the by the Project Director, DRDA, Mr. R. P. Marak.

As part of the occasion, sanctioning letters were distributed to the selected SHG beneficiaries of the Integrated Dairy Development Project (IDDP) by the C&RD Minister and other dignitaries.

Press Release No. 867/06

FIRST WORK EXECUTION UNDER MREGS BEGINS IN GIMBILGRE VILLAGE

The first execution of work for implementation of Meghalaya Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MREGS) under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) by Gimbilgre VEC under Lower Daregre AEC under Gambegre Development Block was formally kicked off by the State C&RD Minister Mrs. Irin Lyngdoh and MP of Tura Mr. Purno Sangma at Gimbilgre village on November 14, 2006.

In a symbolic gesture, Mrs. Lyngdoh and Mr. P. A. Sangma, along with MLAs Billykid A, Sangma, A.K. Sangma, Secretary and Director C&RD, Mrs. M.H. K. Marak and Deputy Commissioner, Tura, Mr P Sampat Kumar, armed with spades and other implement, started digging the road for construction of 1.8km-long road from Gimbilgre to Darechikgre village, proposed by the Gimbilgre VEC, in the presence of several Government officials, AEC and VEC members and the general public.

In her address, Mrs. Lyngdoh said that the Scheme envisaged the villages the power of self determination and urged the VEC members to take up work that would give them sustainable development, adding tat so far, 450 AECs have been formed under eight blocks in West Garo Hills. She lauded the Deputy Commissioner, Tura for showing deep interest in the scheme and for promptly working for its implementation right from the beginning. She also noted with concern that for hilly areas like Garo Hills, the eight categories of work permissible under the Scheme was not enough and gave her assurance that she would take up with the Centre for inclusion of works like construction of community halls, schools and development of playgrounds in the villages.

Mr. P. Sangma termed MREGS as “a truly democratic and the best scheme the country had ever seen, a scheme for the people, of the people and by the people”, and added that under this scheme the villagers would have no scope to criticize the government, the political leaders or the officers as everything has been bestowed upon them.

Mr. Billikid Snagma and Mr. A. K. Sangma also hope that this scheme would bring social change in the rural areas and appealed to the villagers to work in close coordination with Block Officials for the overall development and success of the scheme.

Earlier, the DC. Mr. Smapath Kumar said this first execution of work under the scheme was a “historic moment” in the history of Garo Hills and highlighted the features if eh scheme and the process being followed in the District. He also proudly announced that West Garo Hills is the only District in the whole country where al 95,000 rural households have registered for wage employment and hoped this would serve as a good example for other district. He also reminded the responsibility of the VEC which are, to ensure proper drinking water, providing crèche for women workers, to have an “Information Wall” in any selected school building or community hall so that transparency is maintained on the works being sanctioned or executed. The DC also called on the VEC members to work in convergence with Health and Education programmes for overall development of their village.

Ms. M.H.K. Marak, Project Director DRDA, Mr. R.P. Marak, Project Manager, WGHCHRMS (IFAD), Mr. Daniel Ingty and BDO Gambegre Block, Mr. W. D. Sangma also highlighted about the scheme for the benefit of the village.