Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 460/14

CM GIVES PEP TALK TO STUDENTS AS HE HANDS OUT PC TABLETS

Shillong, Nov 5, 2014: In continuation of the Chief Minister’s Students Digital Learning Aid Scheme, which was launched on October 2, last year, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma along with IT Minister, A.L Hek, Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Zenith Sangma distributed Tablet PCs to class XII students of East Khasi Hills district at Polo Grounds, here today.

He also spoke words of motivation to the students saying the youths of Meghalaya should show that they are way ahead of others. “Your success stories will encourage us to work harder”, he told the students. The tablet PCs are powered with the latest version of Android OS, it is WiFi enabled and carry a warranty of two years.

Giving away the tablets, Dr. Sangma said that the Government is carrying forward this scheme to empower the students, to ensure that the generation-next is capable of realizing their dreams and be at par with others globally. “This Government wants to ensure that children across the State are empowered to compete with their counterparts around the globe and this digital learning aid scheme is one of our initiatives”, he said.

The Chief Minister also informed about the ambitious programme to technologically empower the educational institutions across the State called the Human Capital Development Programme, for which 125 USD project has been sanctioned in the first phase. Out of this, 100 USD is from Asian Development Bank and 90 percent is Grants-in-Aid of the State Government, he said. In order to improve the quality of teaching, the Government would provide a financial support of Rs. 5000 per month to those who want to take up teaching as profession and this teachers’ training facility would be made available in all the blocks of the State, he added.

“Despite the unpleasant things happening around us, the Government is striving hard to make the future better for its citizens to ensure that there is positive perception of the youths of Meghalaya”, he said and informed that the Government is firm in its commitment made last year to make all the classrooms in the State and also all the tourist hotspots and parks in the city WiFi enabled. For this the Government would sign the Agreement within this month, he informed, and added that it would also try to locate more funds to ensure that the IT Department can cover more under the Digital Learning Aid Scheme.

Also speaking briefly on the occasion, Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the Tablet PC would serve like a library for the students and added that they should make best use of it to show their appreciation for the investment that the Government has put in this initiative.

Legislator of Mylliem and MGCC Chairman Chairman, R.V. Lyngdoh, Meghalaya Chief Secretary, P.B.O Wajri, Commissioner and Secretary, IT Department, D.P. Wahlang and Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Sanjay Goyal were among other dignitaries present on the occasion.

Press Release No. 461/14

CENTRAL TEAM MEETS CM ON GARO HILLS FLOOD

Shillong, Nov. 5, 2014: The Central Team which was on a visit to flood affected areas in Garo Hills met the Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma and apprised him of their findings during the two-day visit.

The team comprised of officers from various Central ministries like Home, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Power, Road Transport and Highways, Rural Development, Finance, Health, etc.

The Chief Minister told the Team that the recent floods were unprecedented and unexpected and due to the extent of damage it was not possible to submit reports from ground zero. He also said that scale of challenge faced by this have been huge that it had been tough task attending to the affected families. He however said that the support from well-wishers has been overwhelming and there had been good response to his appeals for donating to the Relief Fund.

He also informed the team of the need to look at long term perspective and the need for strong resilient buildings keeping in mind the great earthquake of 1897 and predictions of even worse eruption taking place in the region.

The team expressed satisfaction with their findings saying that the extent of damages was well documented by the respected districts and that there would be issues regarding compensations to be paid.

The team also discussed with the Chief Minister on temporary and permanent restoration of affected areas.

Press Release No. 462/14

MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR REVIEWS THE FUNCTIONING OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

Shillong, Nov 5, 2014: The Governor, Dr. K. K. Paul, in his capacity as the Visitor of the Private Universities of the State reviewed their working at a meeting held at the Raj Bhavan today. The review meeting was attended by the Chancellors and the Vice-Chancellors who gave an update on the functioning of their respective Universities. The State Government was represented by the Principal Secretary Education.

The Governor urged the Universities to realize that a University is the highest seat of learning and as such should hold a place of esteem in the eyes of the citizens and the students. The Governor stressed on the need for a conducive academic atmosphere in the University campus. In this context he emphasized the need for a compact campus. Sufficiency of basic infrastructure including library, journals and laboratories for science and technical courses, research and publications, sports and cultural activities etc., were highlighted, which are vital to the making of a good university and lead to a positive branding of the institution.

It was emphasised that the universities should be able to impart quality education through well reputed and well qualified faculty. There is a particular need for introducing innovative courses in the tertiary sector, so as to suit the young boys and girls of North East and specifically Meghalaya. This will ensure that the students of this state do not have to go out to other areas of the country, for higher studies. The courses should be such that after the completion of the studies, the students should become readily employable. For higher research, the universities should find affiliation with the National Academic Database.