Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 169/07

18TH IGNOU CONVOCATION HELD

The 18th Convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre, Shillong was held at Anton Hall, St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong on March 17, 2007. Altogether 42 successful students of the IGNOU Regional Centre, Shillong were convocated on the day. The Convocation had been held simultaneously in more than 30 Regional Centres linked via Teleconferencing and EDUSAT. Meghalaya Governor, Mr. M. M. Jacob graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

Lauding the successful students, Mr. Jacob while delivering his words of wisdom as the Guest of Honour said that convocation is an important milestone in the academic activities of the University, be it conventional or the open and distance mode of education. He reminded the students of what the nation expects from them as enlightened citizens to assume leadership in the major task of eradicating poverty, ignorance, inequality and superstition. He urged upon the graduates to view the skills and training that they received in the University in the perspective of what they feel their role in the world of human affairs should be.

Mr. Jacob informed that IGNOU is playing a leading role in redefining education and re-engineering it to ensure sustainability with ever increasing access to a large variety of programmes to meet the changing needs of the society. IGNOU has 129 programmes on offer at present which ranges from the awareness level to the cutting edge in the frontiers of knowledge, he added. He said that the University is mandated to widen access by offering high quality innovative and need-based programmes at different levels, especially to the disadvantaged segments of society at affordable cost by using a variety of media and technology. He then expressed his hope that IGNOU will play an important role in the country’s march towards achieving 100p.c. literacy.

It may be mentioned that the IGNOU Shillong Regional Centre was set up in the year 1988 having a jurisdiction of the entire North East Region of the country. However in December 2002, the Shillong Regional Centre was further divided with each state in the North East Region including Sikkim being provided with Regional Centres under the prestigious North East Educational Development Project (NEEDP). IGNOU had executed the North East-Project (NEP) funded by the Prime Minister’s non lapsable funds for the educational development of North Easter States and Sikkim.

The Shillong Regional Centre had trained untrained school teachers of the state of Meghalaya, translated IGNOU study materials into Khasi and Garo language, imparted training in computer hardware for the unemployed youth, imparted training in Food processing, imparted vocational training on tailoring, handicrafts etc. for jail inmates of the District Jail, imparted computer training to the State Government Police Personnel. The other achievements of the Shillong Regional Centre were awareness campaign for IGNOU Programme, training in beehive, food nutritition and mushroom cultivation, organized training programme on Floriculture through EDUSAT, organized training on Value Added Products in collaboration with ICAR Barapani, Shillong and helping of the people with disabilities by conducting sessions through teleconferencing.

Press Release No. 170/07

HEALTH SURVEY IN MEGHALAYA

The Directorate of Economics and Statistics in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services (MCH & FW), Government of Meghalaya, will conduct a sample survey on Health in the State of Meghalaya during the month of March-April, 2007. The Survey will be conducted in 560 sample Village/Urban Frame Survey Blocks selected from all C&RD blocks and Districts of the State. The total samples in which the detail survey will be carried out is 5600.

The main objective of the survey is to capture some relevant Health Indicators pertaining to Human Development and also at the same time to capture information on some other Health indicators.

Each and every household and individual are requested to extend their help and cooperation by providing the correct and reliable information to the Enumerators and Supervisors.

Press Release No. 171/07

DISTRIBUTION OF RICE AND SK OIL

The Deputy Commissioner (Supply), East Garo Hills District, Williamnagar has informed all AAY, APL and BPL card holders of East Garo Hills District that rice under Targeted Public Distribution System for both Urban and Rural areas for the month of February 2007 has been released and will be distributed through Fair Price Shops. Rice will be distributed at a scale of 35 kg per card per card holder at the rate of Rs. 8.81p per kg for APL, Rs. 6.20p per kg for BPL and Rs. 3.00 per kg for AAY.

Further, S.K. Oil is being issued for both Rural and Urban areas at the scale of 5 Litres per household at the rate of Rs. 10.40 per Litre.

Any non-supply or overcharging by the supplier should be brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner (Supply), East Garo Hills with full details.