Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 1211/17

LAUNCHING OF RASHTRIYA VAYOSHRI YOJANA SCHEME FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India in association with the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya launched its first Mega Camp in Ri Bhoi District at NSCA Mini Stadium Pahamsyiem Nongpoh on 12th December 2017 before it moves out to other Districts of NE States for distribution of physical Aids and Assistive Living Devices to Senior Citizens belonging to BPL Category under the scheme Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY). The event was graced by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State Shri. Krishan Pal Gurjar in charge, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment as Chief Guest and Dr. C. Lyngdoh, Minister in charge PHE Department, Government of Meghalaya as the Guest of Honour in the presence of Shri. H. Marwein, Addl. Chief Secretary, Social Welfare Department etc, Smt. C. Kharkongngor MCS, Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Shri. D.R Sarin, Chairman & Managing Director ALIMCO, Smt. D. Phawa MCS, ADC and others. The programme was also attended by District officers from various Line Departments and beneficiaries. The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Central Government aimed at providing physical Aids and Assistive Living Devices for senior citizens belonging to the Below-Poverty-Line category. This scheme was implemented through the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corp, a Public Sector Unit under the Social Justice Ministry. In the function, as much as 1027 beneficiaries have been served with 4752 Aids and Assisted Living Devices which include 267 walking sticks, 10 Crutches, 519 Walkers, 731 Tripods, 586 Hearing Aids, 377 Wheelchairs, 197 Artificial Dentures and 715 Spectacles valuing more than Rs.69.32 Lacs to the Senior Citizens of Umsning, Umling, Jirang C&RD Blocks indentified through assessment camps conducted by ALIMCO this year.

Delivering his speech to the gathering, Shri. Krishan Pal expressed pleasure to associate himself with the momentous occasion and expressed his thankfulness to the large number of beneficiaries who participated in the programme. He also lauded the tireless efforts rendered by the officers of the Social Welfare Department for making the programme a grand success. He further said that the Central Government is sensitive to the cause of persons with disabilities and is working with dedication for the upliftment of the poor including persons with disabilities. He also pointed out that the Government has taken several steps for the welfare of the elderly persons like RVY Scheme which aims to offer free elder care assistance to seniors citizens belonging to BPL and also free medical treatment to children with disabilities. He expressed hope the devices which have been distributed will help the 1027 beneficiaries to overcome their age related physical impairment and to lead a dignified and productive life with minimal dependence on care givers and other members of their family. Further, he appealed to the officials concerned to continue in conducting the assessment camps for surveying the elder persons and also children with disabilities for their enrolment under the scheme.

Press Release No. 1212/17

CHIEF MINISTER DISTRIBUTES DIGITAL LEARNING AIDS TO STUDENTS OF CL XII

Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma distributed M-Tab Under Students Digital Learning Aid Scheme 2017 to Class XII students of East Khasi Hills at a function held here today at Dallang Stage, 5th Ground Polo, Shillong which was also attended by Minister, Information Technology etc Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh as the Guest of Honour. Speaking to a large gathering of students, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma expressing happiness that the government continues to implement the Digital Learning aid programme to the students said that the programme that was initiated on 2nd Oct 2013 continues for the larger benefit and empowerment of students. He said that the state of Meghalaya has faced a lot of challenges in the field of Education and dealing with the issue of access to quality education at the elementary level while at the secondary and higher levels it is the challenge of having professional colleges and institutes in the state itself. “We have struggled to fight back against the problem of school dropouts and dropout rates in the elementary and secondary levels have fallen significantly between 2006-07 and 2011-12 from 30 percent to 9.5 percent and from 39 percent to 11.5 percent respectively and will continue to work out to ensure that the dropout rates comes to 0 percent”, he said.

The Chief Minister also said that with technology we are no longer insulated from what happens globally and technology has changed even Education therefore it was necessary to initiate a programme so that the children of the state do not feel less privileged or inferior to the rest of the world. “The digital platform that is available for every citizen must be taken advantage of for ensuring that everyone takes benefit of the digital revolution that is happening globally,” said the Chief Minister. He also added that the Digital Learning Aid programme goes beyond the content available in the tablets as it will inspire the youth to be innovative as they use this digital platform. He therefore urged the students to utilize and acclimatize themselves with the whole unlimited access to content available on the web and also to explore the opportunities and spaces available in the digital platform. Dr Sangma also informed that the government has invested in having institutions of higher and professional courses across the state and urged students to take advantage of the institutions available in their own backyard to pursue their studies. “With the coming up of two medical colleges, two engineering colleges and a College of Architecture and Urban Planning in the state, the challenges of pursuing studies outside the state will be minimized and it will also reverse the process of flight of capital,” said the Chief Minister while adding that Education is an economic stimulus and all need to collectively endeavor and resolve to make Education remunerative and sustainable.

Also speaking during the occasion Minister, Information Technology etc Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the world has become highly complicated with cut throat competition and students no longer have time for leisure and family bonding. She also said that Cl XII is a crossroad for students in their life and with access to the tablets young students of Meghalaya will join the global information technology students. The Minister urged the students to work hard investing time and attention to studies while urging the students also to use the tablets wisely. The tablets distributed on earlier occasions came with Android operating system while the tablets distributed today are Windows based. They also come with Microsoft Office which will be of great value to students to familiarize themselves with Word, Excel, Power Point etc. Keyboard & Sleeve have been provided this time to make it more convenient to use the tablet and specially Microsoft Office. The tablet contains Class XI & XII syllabus for Arts, Science & Commerce with NEET & JEE study and preparation material. It also contains practice papers for self evaluation with latest technology of multimedia and interactive content. The government has selected iBall Tablets one of the leading Indian Electronic Brands through an e-tendering process.

All registered students of Cl XII will receive the tablets in other parts of the state. David Nongrum, MLA, Mawryngkneng, Commissioner & Secretary, Information Technology, Education etc D P Wahlang, Secretary, Information Technology, M R Synrem and Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, P S Dkhar were also present.

Press Release No. 1213/17

BUYER AND SELLER MEET UNDER MISSION ORGANIC HELD AT TURA

The Chairperson of Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council Dikkanchi D. Shira inaugurated the first ever Buyer and Seller Meet under Mission Organic Value Chain Development, North East Region at Dikki Bandi Stadium, Dakopgre, Tura. The programme was organised by District Horticulture Office, South West Garo Hills District, Ampati in collaboration with M/S Chigame & Chirikam, Organic Service Provider, Dakopgre, Tura. Mr. Letha D Sangma is the CEO of M/s Chigame and Chirikam Organic Service Provider, Tura. It may be mentioned that Mission Organic has been launched by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul M. Sangma in December 2014 in South West Garo Hills district and so far have selected 40, 000 hectares of land for organic farming in the whole state of Meghalaya. Since then, Clover Organic based in Dehradhun and ECOCERT India Private Limited, Gurgaon has been supporting Mission Organic to make the project sustainable financially and for the environment so that it carries on beyond the government funding period of 3 years. While Clover Organic is supporting in terms of production, supply change and branding along with marketing which is being spearheaded by North East Senior Manager, Sanjay Kumar ECOCERT is involved into certification of the products produce by farmers of the state as well as inviting buyers from outside and beyond the state of Meghalaya. While addressing the gathering, Dikkanchi D Shira stated that the land of Meghalaya is very fertile and most people of the state depend on agriculture for their living. But nowadays, due to consumption of vegetables grown by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides have caused serious health hazards to the people as well as to the health of the soil, she added. Therefore, in order to avoid these products, the Government of Meghalaya has adopted Mission Organic on mission mode approach so that maximum benefit will be reaped by the farmers while considering the health of the future citizens of the state, she informed. She further informed that the Spice Jet Airlines is willing to ship the organic produce from the state at extremely reasonable rate which will make the Meghalaya Organic produce commercially viable across the country.

Chief Executive Officer, Clover Organic, Sanjay Aggarwal said that the Buyer and Seller Meet has resulted in knowledge gathering for the farmers and buyers and the buyers relies that Meghalaya is vast organic opportunity waiting to be explored for the betterment of the stakeholders. He has described Meghalaya to be platinum mine with great potential for organic cultivation. The Chief Guest also inaugurated and visited the stalls put up by the farmers from the entire Garo Hills region including Ritiang/Umtasor Mawdkhar Cluster from Umsning, Ri Bhoi district along with the stalls put up by Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS) from Kentrakona and Dengnakpara amongst others. Enthusiastic farmers of the region came in large numbers to attend the programme and showcase their organic produce at the stall which was purchase by everyone present at the function. Others who spoke on the occasion were Ashoo Arora, NE Agro Products, Gurgaon, Dr. AmitHatti Senior Certification Manager, GEO-FRESH Organic Gujarat, Anil Yadav, Managing Director, ECOCERT India Private Ltd., Rajesh kr Choudary, Director, Darjeeling Gardens, Darjeeling, Gautam Hazarika, Founder Marketing and Operations, Guwahati, Ajay Rechil, Assistant Project Manager, M/S Chigame and Chirikam, amongst others.

Nodal Officer, Mission Organic Shillong, L Dkhar delivered the keynote address and District Horticulture Officer, South West Garo Hills, Ampati N Ch Sangma welcomed the gathering while District Horticulture Officer, Tura, Martin Marak proposed the vote of thanks. Officials from various departments scientist from ICAR, farmers and stakeholders from the region were present at the function.