Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 677/17

MINIMUM WAGES REVISED

The Government of Meghalaya has revised the Minimum Wages in respect of the Schedule of Employments w.e.f. 1st April, 2017. For unskilled category, the minimum wage per day w.e.f. 1st April, 2017 has been fixed at Rs. 189. For semi-skilled category, the minimum wage per day has been fixed at Rs.201. For skilled category, the minimum wage per day has been fixed at Rs. 212 and for highly-skilled category, the minimum wage per day has been fixed at Rs. 235.00. The variable Dearness Allowance has been rounded off to the next higher rupee. This was informed by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Labour Department.

Press Release No. 679/17

PROGRAMME FOR CELEBRATION OF 150 YEARS OF TURA TOWN

As part of the Celebration of 150 years of the Tura town and also for observation of World Environment Day 2017, various events have been scheduled in order to make the event more meaningful. On 1st June, 2017 there will be a Cleaning Drive at Super Market and Bazar area which is being organised by the Chief Executive Officer, Tura Municipal Board. Meanwhile, Cleaning and Rejuvenation of Water Bodies of Tura town which is being started with the Gandrak Stream will be held on 3rd June, 2017. The District Administration in collaboration with Swachh Bharat Mission under Tura Municipal Board, Mission Green under IBDLP, Tura, Tura Art and Culture Society (TACS) and Social Service Wing of the Oneness University is organising this programme. It may be mentioned that cleaning of Gandrak stream has been divided into three parts –Gandrak Stream from Gandrak Fall to Chandmari Playground will be cleaned by Tura Arts and Culture Society, from Chandmari Playground to Lower Mission Compound by Social Service Wing of Oneness University and Ringrey locality to Lower Mission Compound by Tura Municipal Board, Tura. Simultaneously, there will also be a Cleaning drive at Tura Civil Hospital and its adjoining areas organised by the Superintendent of Tura Civil Hospital, Tura. Again, on 5th June, 2017 there will be a Cleaning drive at Kabul Bazar, Takurbari area, Nakam Bazar and Dobasipara locality organised by Tura Traders Union and concerned Area Development Committee members from 7:00 AM. There will also be an official function at SMELC, Dakopgre Tura from 11:00 AM on the same day including planting of trees at various locations in and around the town areas. Therefore, all the residents of Tura town and especially those residing near the Gandrak Falls, Chandmari, Lower Mission Compound, Ringrey, Bazar areas, Kabul Bazar, Nakam Bazar, Dobasipara and near Tura Civil Hospital areas are requested to participate in these cleaning drive.

Press Release No. 981/17

GRAMODAY FINALS ATTURA

The ‘Gramoday Initiative’ –Inter sub-watershed football tournament final match was held at Dikki Bandi Stadium, Dakopgre, West Garo Hills, Tura. The mega event was sponsored by IBDLP and co-sponsored by Mission Unite, Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya and District Election Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura. The star organisers were District Administration, Tura, Soil & Water Conservation Dept., District Sports Officer and IBDLP, BDU, Tura. The co-organisers of the event were District Election Dept., Chief Minister’s Youth for Green (CMYFG), water users & watershed groups and Tura Municipal Board. It may be mentioned that the inter-sub watershed football tournament which kick started on the august occasion of the 45th Meghalaya Day celebration on 21st January , 2017 had participation of over 98 teams from 6 blocks of West Garo Hills, with 99 games being played in the series. The mega finals played on 27th June, 2017 had winners of 6 blocks, who showed their mettle to covet the district champion titles. The final game was played between Rongram and Selsella team. The Selsella team synchronised brilliantly well to covet the title and became the Gramoday District Champions. Shri Jimberth Marak and Shri Fridynath Marak received the Player of the Tournament and Best Goalkeeper titles respectively, both from Selsella team. The awards were given away by Pravin Bakshi, Chairman IBDLP & Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills and Satyavan Khanchi, Commandant 141 Battalion, BSF Danakgre Tura, who were the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.

The ‘Gramoday Initiative’ which fostered the message of ‘village rising or village shining’ was conceptualised with the motive wherein more partnership take place between different stakeholders in the development process with an outcome that community knows the systems well and are aware of different programmes and schemes, social agreement exercises, banking services, knowledge services, market linkages, product clusters, various developmental institutions etc. During the Gramoday football tournament, more than 100 villages were covered during the Gramoday Campaign. The games were witnessed by large group of community members in different blocks. Indigenous and innovative games were played during the ongoing playoffs wherein women, men, children and youth of all ages participated actively. The tournament was enthralled with the participation of over 2000 enthusiastic youths in the series. More than 600 green volunteers were registered and 97 VECs/Nokmas briefed on social agreements & partnership agenda. The campaign also facilitated the platform for identification of major product clusters and existing markets in the watershed areas. There was greater mass mobilisation & awareness and the initiative gave facilitating opportunity for better synergy between departments and community. Protection of NRM, catchment areas, enterprise development and market linkages, community participation, gender and role of men and women in development initiatives, KM initiative etc were some of the main agenda of the campaign. The final event also encompass stalls for entrepreneurs, youth motivation talk, information on career guidance, EFCs and development missions, green volunteer registration and enterprise forum. The District Election Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura staged an vibrant stall and innovative display of mascots, placards, banners etc were organised wherein youths were given awareness on enrolment under right to vote. ‘Mission Unite’ campaign was innovatively shared to the players and spectators during the Gramoday finals.