Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 140/22

DISTRICT LEVEL INTER SCHOOL ATHLETIC MEET 2022 AT JOWAI ON 11.05.2022

The District Level Inter School Athletic Meet was kicked off today at Kiang Nangbah Stadium, Dongmihsngi, Jowai. Additional Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills Shri. P K Boro graced the event as the Chief Guest. The District School Education Officer Smt. P. Syiem, District Sports officer Shri. K. Passah, Members of the West Jaintia District Sport Association, teachers were present for the inaugural programme.

Addressing the students Chief Guest P K Boro encouraged participants to have a sportsmanship and competitive spirit and to deliver their best performance. He also offered the participants his best wishes. He then hoisted the Flag followed by an oath taken by the participants.

Despite the heavy downpour in the morning the enthusiastic participants attended the inaugural programme and took part in the events.

Around 17 schools will be participating in various events like 100mtr,400 mtr, 600mtr, 1500mtr, 4x100 mtr, High Jump, Long Jump, Discus throw, Javelin throw and shot put during these three days, the 11th 12th and 13th May, 2022.

The Event is organised by the office of the District Sports Officer, Jowai in collaboration with West Jaintia District Sport Association.

Press Release No. 141/22

TOWNHALL MEETING ON MSMES CONVENED AT ZIKZAK ON 11.05.2022

Intending to reach out to MSME entrepreneurs of South West Garo Hills, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shillong, convened a Townhall meeting on Micro Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) at Multi Facility Centre (MFC), Zikzak on Wednesday. Aiming to create awareness of banking facilities among the entrepreneurs, linking the unbanked entrepreneurs to the formal banking system, obtaining feedback from the entrepreneurs on problems faced by them in accessing Bank finance, etc., and also providing a two way communication amongst the stakeholders, the meeting was organized in unbanked/ under bank area.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills, AVD Shira, who was present on the occasion, while addressing the gathering reminded the borrowers to clear the loan dues on time and utilize the loan amount for the specific purpose they borrow rather than spending it for other personal purposes.

Highlighting the significance and objectives of the meeting and the various enabling policy measures taken by RBI, P Gangte, General Manager (O-I-C), RBI Shillong, who was also present on the occasion, emphasized that the meeting is one of a kind, where RBI listens directly to the suggestions, opinions, concerns and apprehensions of the MSME entrepreneurs, to decide on the best course of action to formally include them under the banking channel through credit linkage. He also added that this is a forum meant to felicitate a two way interaction between the financial service providers and the service recipients (MSME entrepreneurs) to resolve issues responsible for financial exclusion.

Addressing the gathering, Tshering Diki, Chairperson, Meghalaya Rural Bank, said that Meghalaya as a state with huge potential in tourism can uplift people's lives, if they are willing to take up tourism entrepreneurship, for which one should avail loans and seek financial assistance from banks.

D Banai, AGM, SBI, Tura Branch, while addressing the gathering stressed on the availability of good schemes which can help entrepreneurs but due to lack of awareness, such schemes go underutilized. He also encouraged the borrowers to maintain a good CIBIL score so that they can avail loans easily from numerous banks. Officials from RBI, Shillong made a presentation on MSME and also explained the benefits and required precautions for digital transactions.

The participants were cautioned about potential frauds and modus operandi connected with digital transactions and measures to avoid those security threats. Officials of SIDBI and the DCIC of South West Garo Hills also made presentations on schemes and guidelines to create awareness among the participants. Loan sanction letters amounting to Rs 1.05 crore were also handed over to the entrepreneurs during the programme.

The programme concluded with a quiz and question and answer session where the successful participants were awarded bags imprinted with financial awareness messages from RBI Shillong.

Press Release No. 142/22

8TH SOUTH WEST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT LEVEL INTER SCHOOL ATHLETIC MEET 2022 INAUGURATED ON 11.05.2022

Despite inclement weather, the 8th South West Khasi Hills District Level Inter School Athletic Meet 2022 took off today at Saitsnad Mawlangwir Sports Club, Mawkyrwat wherein Smti. C. Kharkongor the Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills District was the Chief Guest. About 9 schools participated in the event.

Speaking as Chief Guest on the occasion, Miss Kharkongor expressed her immense pleasure that despite the inclement weather different schools partook in the event with high spirits and it’s this spirit that we required in anything we do in life. She said that Sports is as important as education if use effectively,”Sports can be viewed as a career and a profession not just an extracurricular activities and if taken up seriously it can take you to greater heights and ambitions in life “she added. “With the advancement in technology events can now be viewed through social media platforms”, she said. While adding that it is a moment of joy and pride for the people of this district where Athletes of this district earned a lot of medals and has brought laurels through their performance in the Meghalaya Games 2022 which was recently held in Shillong and which at the same time shows that the people of this district can excel well if they were given the right training and coaching.

She inspired youths to be discipline in whatever they intend to do and to always refrain from bad habits. While stating that substance abuse which is rampant these days has become a problem she therefore encouraged them to indulged in sports activities, a channel which will lead them to the right track and never to be indulged in drugs and other unhealthy activities as this will ruin their life She encouraged them to always imbibe discipline and competitive which will take them forward in life .She said that competition is the need of the day and is required in all field of life without which nothing can be achieved .While adding that learning starts from the cradle to the grave, she also reminded them of their duties as students and to concentrate more on their studies and to excel in their studies. She hoisted the flag and declared the meet as opened.

Earlier, Shri Damang Syngkon, District Sports Officer while delivering the welcome address informed that in the recent Meghalaya Games which was held in Shillong South West Khasi Hills District has earned 16 Gold, with 11 silver and 10 Bronze, a promising achievement for the district. Oath taking ceremony also took place before the event.

Press Release No. 143/22

300 DAYS AADHAR CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN WGH

In view of the poor performance of the State in Aadhar enrolment, the General Administration Department, Government of Meghalaya had initiated the 300 Days Aadhar Enrolment Campaign with convergence and collaboration with all line departments in all the districts. In this regard a meeting with all Heads of Department was held at DRDA Conference Hall, Tura on 11th May, 2022.

Speaking during the meeting, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh urged all the citizens including students to get themselves enrolled since Aadhar had been made mandatory by the Government of India and it is necessary to avail all social security schemes as well as to avail scholarship for students.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, the Sub-Divisional Officer (C), Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division Vibhor Agarwal explained in detail about the need for Aadhar enrolment and the process of enrolment which started way back in 2017. However, he mentioned that the West Garo Hills District has achieved only 67 percent enrolment till April, 2022 as per data available and in order to achieved 100 per cent enrolment in the State, the Government of Meghalaya has initiated this 300 Days Aadhar Campaign with the collaboration and convergence of all departments in respective districts.

Stating that Aadhar number will be necessary for availing almost all government services and schemes such as ration cards, driving licence, health care service, water connection, labour licences, banking, social services, etc he insisted on the department heads to mobilise the citizens and villages so that they register when the facilities are available to them.

Press Release No. 144/22

MEETING ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT HELD AT TURA

A meeting on Solid Waste Management was held at DRDA Conference Hall, Tura on 11th May, 2022 with the President and Secretaries of all Locality Development Committees of the district.

Expressing his gratitude for the proactive works and support of the members of Locality Development committees, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh informed that the citizens need to practise segregation of waste and discourage throwing of garbage in open areas and streams, etc. He also urged the citizens to cooperate with the waste management system being adopted by the Tura Municipal Board.

The Chief Executive Officer, Tura Municipal Board Rikse R Marak informed the gathering that the office had conducted series of meetings earlier to discuss on the implementation of waste management and installation of Refuse Derived Fuel Plant at Dumping ground, Rongkon Songittal, Tura. She further mentioned that waste management will be implemented in a phased manner in which the segregation of waste will be done in the household level where the bio-degradable waste will be put in green garbage bags while the non-biodegradable will be put in black garbage bags adding that these garbage bags are available in the reception counter of Tura Municipal Board Office.

Mentioning that the order has been issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), she said that everyone needs to comply with the order by putting little effort and start segregation of waste in our households. She said that in the first phase, the localities of Upper Chandmary, Forestilla, Ringrey Gittim, Akonggre, Gandrak stretch, another is Wadanang, Jangga and Alotgre stretch and will also be covering Lower Mission Compound, Lower Chandmary and ITI area. Requesting the President and Secretaries of Development Committees to apprised the people of the localities of segregation of waste, she said that the timing for collection of waste will be informed to the public and that the garbage bags should be put directly into the collection truck and eventually stop dumping of garbage on roadside in future.

Further, she informed that the Plant is being installed by the Korean Company and the Korean Ambassador along with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma will inaugurate it on 17th May, 2022 tentatively. Informing that Tura Town generates 35 tons of waste every day at present, this waste will be made into energy blocks and can be used as fuel.

Further, on the Tura Town Beautification project, the Deputy Commissioner said that the planning department had suggested for sustainable Beautification projects in the district. Moreover, he also suggested for massive plantation drive in order to combat climate change and balance the ecology of the region.

Meanwhile, as part of Nasha Mukt Bharat, he also informed that in order to curb the menace of drug or substance abuse in the town, he suggested for forming of Mothers group and vigilance committee in all the localities so as to look into these matters help them lead a better life in future.