Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 46/22

CHIEF MINISTER LAYS BASE FOR RERAPARA C AND RD BLOCK AND INAUGURATES SHG MELA ON 24.02.2022

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, today laid the Foundation Stone for the Rerapara C and RD Block in South West Garo HIlls and also inaugurated the SHG Mela in the presence of MLA, North Tura, Thomas A Sangma, MDC, Boldamgre, Stevie Marak and administrative officers from the district.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that the government of the State has focused on creating livelihood opportunities for the womenfolk, farmers and the youth through different programs and schemes and one such program is creating livelihood through the Self Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). “Many SHGs have been formed in different blocks of the State and these SHGs have been assisted financially through Start Up Funds, Revolving Fund, Community Management Fund and through Bank Loans,” he said. The Chief Minister also informed the gathering that 40,000 SHGs with membership strength of close to 4 lakh members have been assisted financially amounting to 220 crores throughout the State.

During the programme, 12 village organizations under Rerapara C and RD block were given financial assistance amounting to Rs. 1.30 cr and an amount of 50 lakh through Meghalaya Rural bank loan, which is interest free.

He urged the SHGs to fulfill the needs of the group and the community through the assistance. He also highlighted the salient features and the welfare schemes of the FOCUS programme and also apprised the gathering at length of the different missions of the State like the Piggery Mission, Diary Mission, Poultry Mission, Aquaculture Mission etc and urged the community to reap the benefits of these missions though the co-operative societies. He also informed that 2 crores 25 lakhs has been sanctioned for the new block building and construction work would start soon. He urged the BDO and the contractor to ensure that the building is completed within the time frame for the larger interest, convenience and benefit of the people of the area. “We have seen that most of the blocks in the State are without buildings or infrastructures therefore the government has allocated 120 crores for new buildings and creation of infrastructures in all the forty six blocks of the State,” he said.

He also added that the tender for the same will be floated in March-April. The Chief Minister also added that the demands for creation of new blocks and civil subdivisions will be reviewed and examined.

Press Release No. 47/22

PBR APP AND FOREST FIRE APP LAUNCHED ON 24.02.2022

Forest and Environment Minister, Meghalaya, Shri. James P K Sangma launched two critical Apps, the PBR App and Forest Fire App for the State of Meghalaya complementing Statehood of Meghalaya celebrations and infusing technological innovations in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC) and also the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC), Shillong.

The Peoples Biodiversity Register (PBR) App developed by NIC was launched for the purpose of upgradation and enriching the data base of inventory of biological resources of the State where the Mobile App version can be used not only by domain related officials but also the general public to complement and supplement capturing data for documentation of our rich biological heritage which will help in fair and equitable sharing of benefits with our villages (bio-resource owners) through the Biodiversity Management Committees.

The Minister also launched the Forest Fire App which was developed by NESAC Shillong for use by the Meghalaya Forest Department. This App is intended to provide a one point source of information on issues related to fire management in sync with Forest Survey of India data. This App is expected to reduce workload and improve decision making process for the domain officials and also facilitate local stakeholders in the villages of the State especially for reporting and addressing the issue of controlling forest fire incidences.

Press Release No. 48/22

REGIONAL OUTREACH BUREAU, SHILLONG ORGANIZES EXHIBITION CUM AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AT NEHU ON 24.02.2022

In commemoration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a two days exhibition cum awareness programme celebrating 75 years of India's Independence and Covid Appropriate Behaviour was today inaugurated by Prof. T B Subha, Acting VC, NEHU, Shillong in the presence of the Dr. Jay Narayan, Registrar, NEHU, Shillong, Dr. Engam Pame, Director, Regional Outreach Bureau, Shillong and Dr. R. L. Nongkhlaw, Dean of Students’ Welfare, NEHU. Held at the Multiuse Convention Hall, NEHU, the programme was organized by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the Dean Student’s Welfare, NEHU and Research Scholars Forum, NEHU.

Speaking as the Chief Guest, Prof. T B Subha said despite gaining freedom 75 years ago, our thinking, our ideas, values and practices are still influenced by western culture. It is only when we free ourselves from habits and practices which are not ingrained in our culture, we can really say that we are totally free or Azad, he added. Prof. T B Subha also stressed on the need to decolonize the curriculum and cited examples of Universities like Oxford and Cambridge which are undertaking huge exercises to do the same. Stating that the new Education Policy does not address decolonizing of the curriculum, he said that we need to think differently about decolonizing and also about decolonizing institutions of higher education which have been running in an archaic fashion.

Dr. Jay Narayan, Registrar, NEHU in his address reminded the gathering that India with universities like Nalanda and Taxila, was the pioneer of higher education and will continue to remain so. Instead of always turning to the West, we should learn from our past and move forward with determination in propelling India towards a brighter future, he added.

As part of the programme prizes were also given away to the winners of the Patriotic Lori Writing competition held earlier.