Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 348/20

SHOPS TO OPEN FROM 4TH TO 7TH MAY, 2020

The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District has informed that in order to enable local residents to purchase their basic and daily essential commodities in Shillong agglomeration and in villages of Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and respective C&RD Blocks in East Khasi Hills District, the following private and commercial establishments will remain open from 4th May, 2020 to 7th May, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M daily. The Deputy Commissioner informed that all Fair price shops under NFSA and NON-NFSA, SK Oil retailers, identified groceries and essential items shops in all the localities of Shillong agglomeration will remain open. For villages in the District, the same arrangements have been made between the Block Development Officer/Zonal Team Leader with respective Rangbah Shnongs. Vegetable, fruit, meat vendors, confectionery shops of the respective localities will also open their shops. Collection centres of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited in community halls of localities, stores of telecom providers both public and private in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills District will open. Registered suppliers and retailers of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Agriculture Departments will open only for sale of livestock, poultry, pet feed and agricultural inputs respectively.

Notified Courier services and e-commerce operation in essential goods, notified Common Service Centres and services provided by self-employed persons, namely, electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, mechanics and carpenters, shops for repair of trucks on highways, hardware and electrical shops and shops that sell, repair and service mobile phones, computers as well as mobile phone recharging centres will also open. The Deputy Commissioner also said that the selected shops have been substantially increased to 1907 numbers with 20 mobile units, so as to meet the requirements of local residents. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Rangbah Shnongs in coordination with District Police will regulate the operation of the shops in their respective localities and villages and to also ensure due compliance to the advisories of Government in the Health & Family Welfare Department with special and strict reference to social distancing concerning the COVID -19 situation. The Deputy Commissioner requested the public to strictly maintain social distancing of at least six feet, not to overcrowd in one area or shop, to wear mask which is mandatory, not to spit in public places and to cooperate with management made by the District Administration, District Police and Rangbah Shnongs. The Deputy Commissioner also said that similar arrangements will be made for the days to come and specific instructions will be suitably published well in advance. The Deputy Commissioner also said that adequate stock is available and there is no need to panic and resort to hoarding as it will have an adverse impact.

Press Release No. 349/20

HEALTH MINISTER LAUNCHES LOCALLY MADE HAND SANITIZERS

Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri A. L. Hek today launched a locally made alcohol based hand sanitizer at Directorate of Health Services (Research), Pasteur Institute, Lawmali, Shillong in the presence of Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department, Smti M. N. Nampui, Directorate of Health Services (R) and Medical Superintendent, Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, Dr. N. Wanswett, Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. A. Warr and health officials. In his brief address, Shri A. L. Hek said that this is an important initiative by the Health Department towards safeguarding the citizens of the state and it is pertinent to state that “Necessity is the mother of inventions.” He said that Pasteur Institute will be the future and a game changer for the State as far as health scenario is concerned. It may be mentioned here that with an aim to supply safe and effective hand sanitizers for the citizens and due to the high demand for hand sanitizers in the state, the Directorate of Health Services (Research) has introduced a small scale manufacturing unit at Pasteur Institute, Shillong to cater to the needs of the healthcare workers and the general public. The manufacturing follows the WHO recommended formulation and the hand sanitizers manufactured by the unit is alcohol based hand sanitizer and the product is kept in quarantine in a clean, spacious, air conditioned room for 72 hours in order to allow time for any spores present in the alcohol to be eliminated by hydrogen peroxide. During the launching programme, the Health Minister distributed hand sanitizers to the press and media persons and also inspected the annex building of the Ganesh Das MCH Hospital which has been turned into an Isolation ward.

Press Release No. 350/20

SECOND TRANCHE OF DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER

As the month of May has approached, the second tranche of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for women account holders of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PM-GKY) package is being disbursed. The DBT credit to the beneficiaries will be done based on the last digit of the account number of the beneficiaries and SMSes will be sent to those beneficiaries whose mobile number is seeded in the account, indicating the date on which the beneficiary has to come to the bank for withdrawal of money and the following arrangement has been made. On 4th May, 2020, beneficiaries holding account numbers ending with “0” or “1”, on 5th May, 2020, beneficiaries holding account numbers ending with “2” or “3”, on 6th May, 2020, beneficiaries holding account numbers ending with “4” or “5”, on 8th May, 2020, beneficiaries holding account numbers ending with “6” or “7” and on 11th May, 2020, beneficiaries holding account numbers ending with “8” or “9” can come to the bank branches for withdrawal of the money. To facilitate the disbursal of the DBT, banking institutions in the state will remain open from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This was informed by the Director, Institutional Finance and Ex-Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Finance (EA) Department.