Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 521/12

CM INAUGURATED FOOD PROCESSING WORKSHOP

Shillong, November 26, 2012: The District Level Workshop under National Mission on Food Processing was inaugurated on November 26th 2012 by the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma at Multi-Facility Centre, Ampati, South-West Garo Hills. The workshop is being organized by the Commerce & Industries Department under Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP).

Later, Dr. Sangma distributed pensions under Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme for the infirm, widows and the disabled and also inaugurated the Enterprise Facilitation Centre (EFC) under IBDLP at Rongtotma, Rongara in South Garo Hills. The function was organized by the Social Welfare Department in collaboration with the District Administration.

Dr. Sangma also made token distribution of solar lamps for class 10 students of the area under Chief Minister’s Renewable Energy & Power Conservation, as part of the program.

Press Release No. 522/12

SPECIAL SCHEME FOR MEGHALAYA-ASSAM INTERSTATE BORDER VILLAGES

Shillong, November 23, 2012: Three crores is being sanctioned as a special scheme for villages along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border to bridge the gap in different developmental programmes. This was announced on the 22nd November 2012 by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma during the inauguration of the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra (BNRGSK) building at Kharkutta in North Garo Hills.

The BNRGSK building was constructed under MGNREGS with a cost of 10.25 lakhs to facilitate the speedy disposal of works under the scheme by AECs and VECs in the region.

Distributing tokens to five partners who applied for various schemes under Economic empowerment of women through financial assistance Dr Sangma lamented that even though seed money for 580 entrepreneurs had been sanctioned under the scheme for Kharkutta C and RD Block only 260 had applied for the same. He therefore urged more women and especially mothers to come forward and avail the scheme at the same time urging the district administration to conduct workshops in order to make people aware of various schemes under the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme (IBDLP). Informing that Entrepreneur Facilitation Centers (EFC) is being sanctioned for every block in the state where trainings will be imparted to facilitate access to the nine missions under IBDLP Dr Sangma said that people can now apply directly through their respective blocks.

Emphasizing on the need of trained teachers Dr Sangma said that quota for Diploma in Teaching for every block will be issued for those who are genuinely interested in the teaching profession. Dr Sangma informing that a Universal Health Insurance scheme wherein registered people can avail up to Rs 90, 000 for minor ailments and up to 1.60 lakhs for major ailments will be launched in North Garo Hills very soon said that Accidental Death Insurance Scheme will be provided for registered professional drivers also. The latter, Dr Sangma informed was deemed necessary so as to minimize the financial burden of the affected family.

Dr Sangma later referring to the memorandum submitted by the Kharkutta Sub Division Demand Committee said that it is the duty of the government to respond to the needs of the people so as to build their hopes and aspirations.

Among the dignitaries present at the occasion were AICC Secretary i/c Meghalaya, Sanjay Bapna, AICC CWC member Dr Dhaniram Shandil, Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya, Dr D D Lapang, MPCC working President Deborah Marak, GHADC CEM, P K Sangma, GHADC Deputy CEM Brigady Marak, MDCs local leaders and officials of the district administration from both North and East Garo Hills.

Press Release No. 523/12

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES DEPT SHOULD TREAT HERBAL PRODUCT MANUFACTURING AS POTENTIAL AREA

Shillong, November 23, 2012: The concept of economic sustainability and its pursuit is of utmost importance stated Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma during the inauguration of the training and facilitation of entrepreneurs on manufacturing of herbal cosmetic products at the Entrepreneurs Facilitation Centre at Betasing C and R D Block in Southwest Garo Hills on November 23, 2012. The six weeks training programme for 40 participants is being organised under the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme (IBDLP) by the mission’s implementing agency, Gyanav Ventures in collaboration with the Commerce and Industries Department and the Southwest Garo Hills District administration.

Speaking on the missions’ viability in the region Dr Sangma informed the gathering that out of the 3, 200 medicinal herbal plants found in Meghalaya 1, 200 of them are exclusive only to Meghalaya from which about 30 plants are found only in Garo Hills. Herbal cosmetics are a very sought after product both by men and women nowadays and there is an abundance of natural resource in the region for its promotion as a sustainable livelihood generation activity, informed Dr Sangma. Stating that the scheme fell under the Forestry and Plantation Crops Mission of the IBDLP, Dr Sangma said that trained entrepreneurs will be given financial and technical aid by the government. He urged the Commerce and Industries department to treat the manufacturing of herbal produces as a potential area and said that the department should pursue the activity in an aggressive and proactive manner.

It may be mentioned that the various ‘small’ programmes under the IBDLP, the government’s Flagship programme, emphasizes on promotion of sustainable livelihood activities by utilizing natural resources available in the region.

Press Release No. 524/12

MEGHALAYA DAY CELEBRATED AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2012

Shillong, November 24, 2012: To showcase the rich cultural heritage of the State at the 32nd India International Trade Fair- 2012, Cultural programme was organized by the Information and Public Relations Department today at Lal Chowk Theater, Pragati Maidan New Delhi in which artists from the State are performing during the celebration. The cultural programme performed by the cultural troupes from the State includes Wangala dance, Shad Mastieh, Shad Nongrep, Traditional Fashion show and songs by Grace Sohliya and Gracyl Ropmay.

Meghalaya Minister for Urban Affairs, Smti M. Ampareen Lyngdoh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence of Smti M.H.K. Marak, Commissioner & Secretary of Information & Public Relations, Shri H.M. Shangpliang, Director of Information and Public Relations, Government officials from different Departments of the State and many others.

While speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Smti M. Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the main objective of organizing the Cultural Programme during India International Trade Fair at New Delhi is to showcase the rich and unique cultural heritage of the different tribes of the State. She also informed that Meghalaya has a permanent pavilion at Pragati Maidan and therefore invited all the people to visit the pavilion during the Trade Fair in which youth curricular activities of the State are displayed apart from handloom, handicraft, processed food and agro products.

It may be mentioned that a fortnight long India International Trade Fair -2012, organized by the India Trade Promotion Organisation at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi began from 14th November, 2012 in which various Departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest, Co-operative Society, Tourism, Mineral Resources, Commerce and Industries, Soil and Water Conservation, Meghalaya Khadi Village Industrial Board, Meghalaya Handloom Handicraft Development Co-operation and different units of entrepreneurs from the State participated in the Fair.