Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 318/21

WORLD FISHERIES DAY CELEBRATED

The Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Meghalaya today celebrated the World Fisheries Day as part of the State’s Golden Jubilee Celebration at a programme held at the premises of the Directorate Office, Shillong. Fisheries Minister, Shri S Dhar graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department, Shri P. Shakil Ahammed as Guest of Honour.

Speaking as the Chief Guest, Shri S Dhar lauded the officials and staff of the fisheries department for their tremendous efforts in serving the farmers of the state and assisting them in various fisheries activities. The objective of the state government is to have a sustainable fish production to cater to the needs of the state and also to generate employment opportunities and to raise the livelihood of the farmers.

Shri S Dhar also informed that the government is committed to work hand in hand with the farmers and to provide all the necessary aid. He also said that the govt is exploring ways and means to link fisheries and tourism sector in order to boost revenue collection and employment opportunities for the youth. He also urged the farmers to work diligently for the benefit of themselves, the state and the country as a whole.

Shri P. Shakil Ahammed informed that the aim of the World Fisheries Day is to make fisheries sector globally vibrant, sustainable and replenishable so that fish farmers will survive, water will prevail and nature can sustain the whole economy, livelihood and future of the planet.

He also stated that with the momentum picking up in terms of sustainable fishing, it helps in curbing Global Warming and other hazardous events to a certain extent. He also expressed happiness that protection and preservation of water bodies started a long way back in Meghalaya. With the government initiatives, till date there are 79 fish sanctuaries in the state. He also informed that Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission 2.0 is bridging the gap of supply and demand of fishes in the state.

During the day, a booklet on “Composite Fish Culture and Biofloc Technology” was released and distributed two wheelers for the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) 2020-21. State Award for best progressive fish farmer was given to Smti. Silme Ch. Marak of South West Garo Hills and District awards for best progressive fish farmer were also given to farmers. As part of the celebration the department also conducted photography competition on the theme “Water Life and Livelihood”. Stalls were also erected at the venue where farmers from all the districts of the state displayed their produce for sale.

Others who spoke include Shri S. C. Sadhu, Secretary Fisheries Department, Kum. I Laloo, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and Smti. A L Mawlong, Director of Fisheries.

Press Release No. 319/21

WEEK LONG COOPERATIVE WEEK CELEBRATION CONCLUDES

In an initiative aimed at improving the ease of doing business, a booklet on Online Registration of Cooperative Societies was today released by Shri. G H P Raju, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Cooperative Department in function held at Meghalaya Cooperative Rural Bank Ltd, Shillong.The programme organised by the Cooperation Department, Government of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd marked the closing ceremony of the week long 68th All India Cooperative Week Celebration held from November 14 to 21, 2021.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. G H P Raju observed that the spirit of cooperation is engraved in the ethos of the society in Meghalaya. Stating that most cooperative societies function on an auto pilot mode, Government intervention is often sought after only in crisis situations such as disease, disaster etc. The role of the Government is to facilitate, strengthen and provide assistance to Cooperative societies in terms of providing working capital, equipment, training, field visits outside the state, he added.

Shri Raju also stated that funds alliable with MECOFED and Central Bureau for Housing Cooperation should be used for the development of infrastructure like storage facilities to aid the farmers, which in turn will go a long way in securing their earnings during the off seasons. He also stressed on the importance of using the Cooperation Development Fund for conducting awareness, capacity building and computer literacy programmes for the 1500 active cooperatives societies across the state and for the creation of a social media cell to spread awareness about the department and the schemes that it offers.

Earlier messages from the Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, Cooperation Minister, Government of India, Shri. Amit Shah and President of NUIC, New Delhi were read out.

Co-operators representing Kasharipara SCS Ltd. and Nongtluh SCS Ltd, also shared experiences, challenges and success stories of their respective groups, serving as a learning experience and encouragement to all.

Press Release No. 320/21

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES SHG MEGA EVENT CUM HEALTH MELA AT UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, UMIAM KHWAN

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Saturday inaugurated the SHG Mega Event cum Health Mela organized by Umsning C & RD Block, Ri Bhoi District at Union Christian College, Umiam Khwan. Also present Dr W R Kharlukhi, MP, Rajya Sabha, Dasakhiatbha Lamare, Minister, PWD [Buildings], Jason Sawkmie Mawlong, MLA, Umsning, Macdalyne Sawkmie Mawlong, MDC, Umsning besides R M Kurbah, Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi and other senior officals from the district.

In his address to the gathering the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma emphasized the importance of Self Help Groups (SHGs). He said that the Government has always felt the need to protect and support the grass root level systems. “The Government strongly felt the only way to do it was to create an institution at the grass root level to be able to reach out to every household in the state,” he said. He added that SHGs are not just livelihood programs, but they are institutional systems and networks. He said that the same institutional set up of SHGs can be used for multiple government programs.

The Chief Minister said that the SHGs movement is one of the key successes of the government. He informed that from a mere 6,000 groups it has increased to 36,000 SHGs across the state, similarly he said that the village organizations have increased from 200 to 2500. He also added that the allocation for different community investment funds has also increased from10 crores to 110 crores. “This type of success we have achieved in the SHG movement, where more than 3.5 lakhs of women are reaping benefits because of the schemes and the programmes is something that we all should be happy about,” he said. He also informed that the target is to touch 42000 SHGs in the next one year.

“Today under the Umsning Block about 1.6 crores will be released to 181 SHGs from the NRLM and under the Umling Block 78 lakhs will be distributed to 135 SHGs,” he said.

The Chief Minister also gave an insight on the FOCUS programme, which also focus on the grass root level. "There are more than 4.5 lakh families that depend on Agriculture in the state, there is no particular scheme of the State Government that brings direct benefits to these farmers. Covid was a very difficult time for the famers and everybody, therefore the government felt it needed to give some kind of financial help to different farmers and hence it started this programme FOCUS,” he informed the gathering.

He said that the government has focused on the marginalized and the grass root people and have started a number of Farmer's Welfare Programme. Under the FOCUS programme an amount of Rs 32,45,000 was released to 40 FPO benefiting 649 members under Umsning Block and Rs 16.5 lakhs was released to 330 farmer families under the Umling Block.

Later the Chief Minister also distributed cheques to different SHGs and FOCUS beneficiaries also visited the stalls of the SHGs that were set up as part of the event.

Press Release No. 321/21

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES MAWLYNDEP COMMUNITY CENTER AND BIOFLOC FISH TANKS

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Saturday inaugurated Mawlyndep Community Center and BioFloc Fish Tanks in Mawlyndep Village, Ri Bhoi District.

Speaking during the inauguration Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the Mawlyndep Community Center is one of the best Community centers of the state. Congratulating the people of Mawlyndep the Chief Minister said that the Center is a beautiful example of the villagers coming together. He said that Mawlyndep has a potential for Tourism and can be developed into a Tourism road circuit having many resorts, restaurants and other Tourism facilities along the stretch.He further said that the 15 crores that has been sanctioned by the World Bank for the development for the road leading to Mawmaram will boost Tourism in the area. The Mawmaram to NEPA Junction is a project of 64 crores covering a length of 41.527 kms under MITP, expected to be completed by Nov 2024 (42 months).

The Mawlyndep Community Center is partially funded by Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.

Inaugurating the BioFloc Fish Tanks he said that the highest consumption of meat in the state is fish, consuming about 30,000 metric tons of fish annually. “The state produces only about 50 percent of the total consumption, so there is a huge gap in the demand and supply,” he said. He added that the livelihood and the income that can be generated by using such kind of technology it will not only meet the demand but can change lives thereby improving also the economy of the State.

The Chief Minister also handed over the ODF Certificate to Mawlyndep. The village has been conferred with an ODF Plus Certificate for having been able to sustain the gains on becoming ODF that had been achieved through adequate accessibility to toilet facilities and usage and for progressing to higher standards of sanitation status by having systematic community managed waste management arrangements both at household and institutional level characterized by optimum visual cleanliness in the village surroundings.

Also present Dr W R Kharlukhi, MP, Rajya Sabha, Jason Sawkmie Mawlong, MLA, Umsning, Macdalyne Sawkmie Mawlong, MDC, Umsning besides R M Kubah, Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi and other senior officals from the district.