Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 69/24

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES SHIITAKE MUSHROOM PRODUCTION AND TRAINING CENTRE

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, inaugurated the Shiitake Mushroom and Training Centre funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of DoNER and Government of Meghalaya at Upper Shillong in the presence of Minister, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ampareen Lyngdoh.

Speaking during the occasion, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that the approach of the government has always been to take every section of the society on board as the state moves forward.

“The investments that we make and the developments that we create will be meaningless if different sections of the society cannot grow along and be a part of the growth story of Meghalaya,” he said. He informed that in the last three years the state government has invested around 700 crores to create value chains and infrastructures for the farmers so that their farming and the products of their activities will be remunerative and economically attractive. “I have always believed that we don’t need to do new things but we need to help the farmers to make their farming better,” he said.

The Chief Minister also informed that with the establishment of the Shiitake Mushroom Production and Training Centre, the target is to help 1000 farmers. He also said that in a year three cycles of shiitake mushrooms can be farmed with income generation of about 1 lakh per cycle. “With a basic calculation we can derive that in just three years 117 crores revenue revenue will be earned by our farmers,” he said. He further encouraged the farmers to take up shiitake mushroom farming as this activity would be only an additional farming as it requires less space for farming with only about 15 days of work per cycle which also requires only basic maintenance. He added that the market for shiitake mushroom is already present and the state has potential to supply to the rest of the country while being self-sufficient in it. He further assured the farmers of all assistance from the government.

The project has been completed at the cost of Rs. 15.15 crore. The unit is located at Mushroom Development Centre, Upper Shillong. The project is being implemented in partnership with YATS Corporation Tokyo, a leading global producer of Shiitake Mushrooms.

As part of this initiative, market linkage through a buy-back mechanism has been put in place through Shillong Shiitake Products Company Ltd (SSPL), a joint venture between YATS Corporation and Hill Farmer’s Shiitake Mushroom Co-Op Society Ltd (HFSMC).

It may be mentioned that Rs. 62.37 crore has earmarked for Mushroom Mission for a period of five years. So far nearly 5000 farmers have been benefited from the programme. The promotion of Shiitake Mushroom has been envisage by the Department of Agriculture under the Mushroom Mission with three key pillars in focus – technology, markets and community.

Press Release No. 70/24

STATE MONITORING COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT MONITORING COMMITTEES RE-CONSTITUTED

In a Notification issued on 21st December, 2023, the Government of Meghalaya has in respect of Information & Public Relations Department re-constituted the ‘State Monitoring Committee at the State Level and District Monitoring Committees at the District Level’ to enforce the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.

The Committees are required to perform the role of monitoring the content being shown on TV channels at the local level.

The State Monitoring Committee will comprise of Commissioner & Secretary/Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department as Chairperson, Commissioner of Police/DG of Police or a Representative, Secretary, Social Welfare Department or a Representative, Station Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Shillong, Representative of a leading NGO (to be nominated by Chief Secretary) and Academicians/Psychologists/Sociologists (one each to be nominated by Chief Secretary) as Members and Director of Information & Public Relations as Member Secretary.

The functions of the State Monitoring Committee will be to see that the District/Local Committees have been formed, to see that the Committee meetings are held regularly. To oversee that the authorized officers are effectively performing their duties, to review cases, if any, on malpractices by Cable Operators and undesirable content being shown at the State and local level by the cable operators and the manner these cases are handled and decisions to be taken thereafter.

To provide suggestion/guidance to District Level Committees, to review and accept decisions on the matters referred to District Level Committees. To collate date/information from the District Level Committee and forward it to the Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt of India. To recommend action and forward complaints against satellite channels (National Channels) to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through the Chief Secretary of the State in cases of violation of Government of India’s orders on the Programme and Advertising Codes.

The District Monitoring Committee will comprise of Deputy Commissioner of concerned District as Chairman/Chairperson, District Superintendent of Police, District Public Relations Officer of concerned District, Station Director or Representative of Doordarshan Kendra, Station Director/Assistant Station Director of All India Radio, Representative of leading NGO (to be nominated by the Deputy Commissioner), Academicians/Psychologists/Sociologists (to be nominated by the Chief Secretary) as Members and Assistant Director of Information & Public Relations/District Public Relations Officer of concerned District as Member Secretary.

The functions of the District Monitoring Committee will be to provide a forum where the public may lodge a complaint regarding content aired over cable television and take action on the same as per procedure prescribed herein, to review the action taken by Authorized Officers for enforcement to Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. To immediately bring to the notice of the State and Central Government if any programme is affecting public order or wide spread resentment in any community. To keep a watch on content carried by cable television channels at the local level and to ensure through the Authorized Officers that no unauthorized or pirated channels are carried and local news if aired by the cable television operator is restricted to information about local events and is presented in a manner which is balanced impartial and not likely to offend or incite any community and to monitor the availability of free to air channels and channels notified for mandatory carriage on the cable network.

Press Release No. 71/24

CHIEF MINISTER LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR ARTIFICIAL FOOTBALL TURF AT UMBUDA

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, laid the Foundation Stone for construction of Artificial Football Turf at Umbuda Football Ground, Ri-Bhoi in presence of Sport Minister Shakliar Warjri.

The infrastructure is being created at an estimated cost of Rs. 10.93 crores.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that youngsters can excel in sports and bring medals and laurels to the State if only opportunities are provided. “This is the commitment of the government that we will continue to invest in sports and in sports infrastructure,” he said. He informed that currently project worth Rs. 700 cr is being implemented for creation of different sports infrastructure in the State and close to Rs. 400 cr is being sanctioned in the next financial years for implementation of sports infrastructure. He further said that the government has budgeted Rs. 2800 crore for youth budget, the Chief Minister said that this includes sports, music, culture and entrepreneurship, which are aimed to tap the potential of the youth. “It is not just in sports, music, entrepreneurship or culture and things that you are passionate about but even in social sectors like education and health the government is very focused on ensuring that we provide the best possible services that we can,” he added.

Talking about inclusive development, the Chief Minister said that if the State has to develop, it cannot be restricted to Shillong, Tura and Jowai, but every village and constituencies in the State has to move forward. “Around 20 artificial turf playground are coming up in rural areas of the State, including several track and field stadium”, he added. He also announced that Ribhoi district will soon have a track and field stadium.

He also informed that the Mother and Child Hospital and District Medical Health Office in Ri Bhoi will be functional within April and the Trauma Centre which is currently temporarily housing the District Medical Health Office will function as a Trauma Centre.

He also said that road connectivity in the district is being improved and that the Nongpoh-Sonapur road is in the second phase of the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project. “We will ensure that we are able to start this at the earliest,” he said. The Chief Minister also informed that an amount of 75 crores is sanctioned for the 132 KV grid connectivity in Nongpoh. “This power grid will stabilise the overall power supply in Nongpoh and the surrounding areas,” he said. He further said that the government will continue to ensure the overall development of infrastructures and services is taken further in Ri Bhoi.

The Chief Minister also said that Ri Bhoi is an aspirational district at the centre and all important schemes of the Government of India are getting an importance and a push in the district. “The state government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all the implementation takes place as per the mandate of government of India,” he said and added that Ri Bhoi is very uniquely geographically located and there are huge opportunities for the people. “This something that the district and the people of this area should be proud of and happy about,” he said. He further informed that a full economic zone with large scale investments in industrial as well as educational zones are in the pipeline for the district. He concluded by urging the youth to take to take advantage of the different infrastructures that the government is creating. “Remember that all of you have a talent have been blessed with wisdom and knowledge. Do not waste your talent and the gifts that God has given you by going into the wrong path,” he urged the youth who had gathered for the occasion.