Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 187/18

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON HIMALAYAN PLANT DIVERSITY

The Governor of Meghalaya, Shri. Ganga Prasad today inaugurated the two days National Seminar on Himalayan Plant Diversity: Taxonomy Conservation and Sustainable Utilization at the auditorium of the Botanical Survey of India, Lower New Colony. The Seminar is being organised by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Eastern Regional Centre in collaboration with the East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy (EHSST) and the North Eastern Hill University. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that our Nation is rich in biological resources due to the diversified climatic conditions and geographical condition ranging from the sea level to the high hills of the Himalayas. The North Eastern region which is the abode of almost 50 percent of India’s biodiversity alone, is a recognised “biodiversity hotspot” worldwide. The Governor added that the different kinds of unique and valuable plants found abundantly in the North Eastern Hills are of immense value in sustaining our existence today and a treasure for future generations. Therefore he stressed on the importance of plant research for the welfare of mankind and expressed hope that seminar would help create awareness and encourage more scientists, researchers to undertake researches on plant diversity, identifying significant species and work on applications for sustainable uses.

Delivering the Presidential Address, Dr. A.A. Moa. President of the EHSST and Chairman of the Seminar gave an insight on the functions of the BSI and EHSST and also focused on the significance, from the ecological and evolutionary point of the view of the Himalayan region, which contains more than one third of the country’s total biodiversity. In his keynote address, Prof. A. K. Koul, Chairman, Research and Advisory Monitoring Committee besides dwelling at length on the rich biodiversity wealth of the Himalayan region, exhorted the taxonomists who are considered as the custodians of green wealth of the country to do more than just document the plant wealth. He urged them to broaden their mandate and plunge in halting species loss in the country, which is likely to lose 1000 plants species in the near future. Earlier the Governor also released a Souvenir commemorating the two days seminar.

Press Release No. 188/18

REGIONAL ORIENTATION WORKSHOP ON SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2018 HELD

Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Regional Office (MMT), Shillong held the Regional Orientation Workshop for Field Officers on Swachh Survekshan 2018 today at PCI, Lower Lachumiere. Chief Guest of the occasion, Superintending Engineer PHE & Assistant State Co-ordinator, SBM, during his address highlighted the various programmes of the Central and State government to deal with sanitation. He also informed that the State of Meghalaya has achieved ODF status in January this year. Earlier, in his Key Note Address, Deputy Director, DPF, Shillong, Dr A M Farooqi, IIS, said that this is the third assessment that is being carried out in the country and informed that in the assessment of the previous year Shillong ranked at 251st. He also said that North East has always held the pride of upholding the values of Nature and Meghalaya is known to be as a clean state. He also added that the awareness on Swachh Survekshan was not sufficient and hoped that with the efforts to bring in more awareness proper assessment will be done and that Shillong will fare better. He also informed that 4041 cities will be assessed.

It may be mentioned here that with an objective to encouraging cities to improve urban sanitation, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs had conducted Swachh Survekshan survey in 2016 and 2017. In a bid to scale up the coverage of the ranking exercise and encourage towns and cities to actively implement mission initiatives in a timely and innovative manner, MoHUA proposes to conduct its third survey to rank 4041 cities based on assessment of progress under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). The objective of the survey is to encourage large scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a better place to live in. The survey also intends to foster a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens, towards creating cleaner cities. The Technical Session had DFP Unit i/c Tura, Haihungbe Mpame and Mark West Kharkongor, Consultant of SBM has the speakers.

Press Release No. 189/18

8TH STATE LEVEL PAINTING COMPETITION ON WATER RESOURCES

Every year since 2010, the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India organises painting competitions on themes related to Ground Water Conservation under Information, Education and Communication Scheme with an objective to involve the children in conservation of water and to make them aware about the need of conserving this precious resource and at the same time to involve their parents towards this noble cause. In the State of Meghalaya, the 8th State Level Painting Competition on Water Resources will be organised on 10th March, 2018 at Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture, Bivar Road, Shillong and the Prize Distribution Ceremony will be held at the same venue at 3:00 PM. It may be mentioned that the School Level Painting Competition was organised for students of 6th, 7th and 8th Standards and was conducted by various schools of Meghalaya during October-December 2017. A total of 1850 students from 41 schools from Meghalaya participated in the competition and 50 best paintings were selected and called for participating in the State Level Painting Competition. First, Second and Third prizes as well as 10 consolation prizes will be awarded during the competition and the top awardee from each of the State/UT would be called to New Delhi for the National Level Competition.

Press Release No. 190/18

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY OBSERVED AT TURA

The International Women’s Day was observed here today at Dikki Bandi Stadium, West Garo Hills, Tura with the theme “Press For Progress” in an impressive function which was organised by BAKDIL Tura in collaboration with District Social Welfare Office, Tura and Meghalaya Rural Bank. Women groups, SHGs and various women organisations from all the districts of Garo Hills region attended the function marked by a daylong awareness programme on health and nutrition, role in improving sustainable and allied activities, banking and entrepreneurship for rural women, rights of women delivered by Dr. Minakshi A Sangma Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Tura, Mrs. Balsa B Sangma, President Mother’s Union, Tura, Mrs. Emika Lyngdoh, Representative, Meghalaya Rural Bank and Rockime Marak, Advocate, Tura respectively. Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Ram Singh, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills congratulate and thank the Director, Bakdil for organising such programme in order to pay befitting tribute to all womenfolk of the society in the region. Further he stated that inspite of the fact Meghalaya being a matrilineal society man often takes a better place and women are more or less excluded in important decisions and added that certain parity issues need to be addressed to strengthen women rights. He also highlighted on the incidence of oppression and other social issues faced by women in the society. He then asserted that the purpose of SHGs is to bring economic upliftment among women and urged them to strengthen and revive existing mothers union or mahila samity, etc and work for the progress and prosperity of the nation in general and society in particular.

Earlier in the function, the Chief Guest inaugurated and visited the exhibition stalls set up by various women SHGs and groups at the venue showcasing locally available vegetables, etc and homemade produces. Pigeons were also released by the Chief Guest on this auspicious occasion. The day long programme comprises of cultural shows, demonstration of economic activities performed by women groups and also felicitated those women who have been change maker in Garo society. Awards have also been given to 8 SHGs under different categories, ASHAs and ANM. On this occasion, Packed Black Pepper was also launched by the Chief Guest which is a product of Chijanggi Producer Organisation from Dadenggre. Others who spoke on the occasion were Reverend Bishop Andrew R Marak, Bishop of Tura Diocese, Chairperson, Sunny Charitable Trust, United Kingdom, Rev. Fr Sunny Mavelil, Director, Bakdil, Tura and Rev. Fr. Cyril Sangma, Assistant Director Bakdil, Tura.