Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 166/22

IN MEGHALAYA STUDENTS SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY

The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed on 31st of May every year to raise awareness on harms caused by tobacco products to people, public health, communities and the environment. WNTD was created in 1987 by the Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year, the WNTD theme is “Tobacco- threat to our environment", highlighting that, throughout its lifecycle, tobacco pollutes the planet and damages the health of all people. In Meghalaya, the Departments of Education and Health, Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with Sambandh Health Foundation (SHF), a Gurugram-based NGO are running a campaign to create awareness on how tobacco is damaging our environment.

The campaign required every school to do two activities: a Rally against tobacco and a Signature campaign. Each school has to get its students to create awareness in the community on the current theme of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). Schools and students have taken up both activities with great enthusiasm.

Dr. Lana Nongbri, State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Program, said, “Tobacco is not only harmful to human beings, it is damaging to the environment. The very high usage of tobacco causes death and disease and puts a very heavy burden on families. The Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Program works with youth and will change the attitude of our population towards tobacco and reduce usage. It has been a record-breaking WNTD in Meghalaya this year. Schools from every block in all the districts of Meghalaya are participating and students are sensitizing thousands of people in the community. This campaign will surely make a dent in the alarming levels of tobacco use in Meghalaya. 47percent of adults in Meghalaya use tobacco and even among 13-15 year olds, it was found by the Global Tobacco Youth Survey (GYTS-2019) that 34 percent use tobacco.”

In April, the Health Department sent memes on WhatsApp to the Principals and Teachers of all schools on how tobacco harms the environment. There were memes on how one tree is burnt to cure the tobacco used for every 300 cigarettes, how cigarette butts create litter, are not biodegradable and spread the harmful chemicals contained in cigarettes, how people chew tobacco and then spit in public places. Teachers shared such materials with students.

The signature campaign required students to convey these messages about tobacco’s harm to the environment with family, friends and neighbors and get their signatures. Schools are organizing rallies in public places like market places, bus terminus, etc. Schools which did both the activities with maximum student participation are eligible for winning Awards. Awards are given by the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Meghalaya for each category of School - Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary. Awards will be given for the best school in each category in each Block. The block-level winners are eligible for district-level awards and the best from each district will vie for State-level awards. The State winners will be felicitated on World No Tobacco Day.

Dr. Ashima Sarin, Director, Sambandh Health Foundation, “this campaign is a part of the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) program being run in the state, because of which students are now taking the lead against tobacco. There are 8,000 deaths caused by tobacco every year in Meghalaya and the State has some of the highest cancer rates in the country. The ToFEI campaign is becoming a game changer for reducing tobacco usage. Full support has been there from the Deputy Commissioners and Police in all Districts of Meghalaya.”

Press Release No. 167/22

ANMS FELICITATED IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT ON 24.05.2022

The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat today organized a felicitation programme for the Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) at the office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat. The felicitation programme was attended by Shri. Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, Shri. Jonathan Shylla, MCS, Addl. Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, Dr(Mrs) N. P. Suchiang, District Immunization Officer, I/C East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat and Dr (Mrs). R. Toi, MO I/C Sutnga CHC, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat said that the felicitation programme was organized to recognize and commend the exemplary services rendered by the ANMs in the district. He also stated the ANMs have been performing very well despite difficult circumstances, while also informing that the District Administration will be undertaking repairs of Sub Centers and also equipting them with all the necessary equipment which will further strengthen institutional deliveries at the Sub centers in the district.

Earlier in the programme, Shri. Jonathan Shylla, MCS, Addl. Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, highlighted the contributions and services rendered by Smti, Kijuhi Langstang, and Smti. Manbhadakani Lyngdoh of Ryngkoh Sub Center, Smti. Leitmon Paslein and Smti. Agnes Syrti of Samasi Sub Center and Smti Nidamon Chyrmang, ANM of Jalaphet Sub Center. He also stated that these ANMs have been doing a tremendous job and performing their duties to the best of their abilities to ensure that proper care is given to all expecting mothers and safe delivery of the newborns.

As a token of appreciation, Shri. Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat along with Shri. Jonathan Shylla, MCS, Addl. Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat and Dr(Mrs) N. P. Suchiang, District Immunization Officer, I/C East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat handed over citations and gifts hampers to the ANMs of these three Sub Centers of the District, the ANMs include Smti. Kijuhi Langstang, and Smti. Manbhadakani Lyngdoh of Ryngkoh Sub Center, Smti. Leitmon Paslein and Smti. Agnes Syrti of Samasi Sub Center and Smti Nidamon Chyrmang, ANM of Jalaphet Sub Center.

Press Release No. 168/22

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES JACKFRUIT TECHNO INCUBATION CENTRE AT IHM SHILLONG ON 24.05.2022

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in the presence of MLA, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, today inaugurated the Jackfruit Techno Incubation Centre (TIC) located at the Institute of Hotel Management, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong. The TIC at IHM, Shillong is one of the two Incubation Centres under the Government’s Mission Jackfruit that is being set up in the State. The Government is also in the process of setting up a Techno Incubation Centre at the College of Community Science, CAU, Tura. Mission Jackfruit was launched in 2018. Envisaged as a five-year project, it is being implemented under the Directorate of Food Processing.

During his inaugural address the Chief Minister said that the Mission mode programs of the government are aimed at promoting sustainable rural and urban livelihood and help farmers realise increased income through value addition and access to better markets.“The Jackfruit Mission was initiated to ultimately make sure that the farmers are able to use the product in a constructive manner and get value out of the Rs.500 crore worth of Jackfruit that was going to waste. Until and unless we can convert those products into things that are sellable and make something more out of something we already have, it's going to be useless’, he said. The Chief Minister also stressed on the role of agri-entrepreneurs as a link in the process of value addition and finding lucrative markets for the finished products. Stating that the ultimate objective of the different programs being implemented in the agriculture sector is for the benefit of the farmers, the Chief Minister also underlined the need to align the different initiatives to achieve the required results. “We need to connect the different programmes that are happening. We cannot allow them to work in silos and we need to ensure that we are able to connect the processes together so that we actually achieve something, and the farmers gain something” he said. The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to encourage eateries and restaurants to source local products to promote them.

MLA, Pyniaid Syiem, during his address expressed gratitude for the different programmes initiated by the Government for the welfare of farmers.

Chairman, Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission, K.N. Kumar said that the newly inaugurated TIC will act as a common processing centre for Jackfruit and provide hands-on training to beneficiaries. He added that the TIC will be a centre for innovation and development of new products from Jackfruit.