Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 102/23

9TH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA CELEBRATED

The 9th International Day of Yoga 2023 was celebrated today in the state at a programme held at the Community Hall, NEHU Campus, Umshing, Mawkynroh. The programme was organized by the Health and Family Welfare Department and National AYUSH Mission, Meghalaya. Health and Family Welfare Department Minister, Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Delivering her inaugural address, Dr Lyngdoh said that Yoga is an age-old practice and has been tested through the years. She highlighted the benefits of Yoga in uplifting not only the physical but also the mental health of people who practice it. She said that Yoga in recent years has been accepted across the world and stressed that Yoga helps in keeping control of oneself without any drawbacks which we cannot achieve through other forms of medication.

She also said that the government is committed to propagate the practice of Yoga because of its wide ranging benefits. She encouraged every citizen of the state and also urged the nurses present in the programme to practice Yoga in order to cope with their stressful duties and also suggested that there should be a dedicated room and Yoga mats in every hospital of the state to enable the nurses and doctors to practice yoga in their place of work.

During the programme, the Chief Guest also launched the YSLife initiative which stands for Yoga Simplified for Daily Life. The initiative intends to demystify and popularize Yoga amongst the masses and also significant in light of increasing incidence of Non Communicable Diseases amongst the residents of the state.

Following the inaugural function, a mass Yoga demonstration on Common Yoga Protocol was also held in which nurses from Nursing School of Shillong Civil Hospital and Ganesh Das Hospital took part, the minister and other dignitaries also engaged themselves in various Yoga postures.

The programme was also attended by Dr Joram Beda, Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, R M Kurbah, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District among others.

Press Release No. 103/23

EDUCATION MINISTER FELICITATES SSLC TOPPERS OF GARO HILLS

The Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma felicitated the Toppers of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Examination 2023 today at District Auditorium, Tura in the presence of Chairman, Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA), Rupert Momin, Adviser to the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya, Himalaya Shangpliang, Commissioner and Secretary, Education Department, Pravin Bakshi, Director School Education and Literacy, Swapnil Tembe, other distinguished dignitaries, Deputy Commissioners of Five districts of Garo Hills, Principals and students.

Addressing the gathering, Education Minister, Rakkam A Sangma expressed his gratitude to the students and teachers for making the region proud and mentioned that this is the beginning and first stage of students life as they start their career for future endeavors. Urging the students to make double effort as they start their career, he advised them to be serious in their work and execute the task with full dedication and honesty and contribute towards the growth and prosperity of the State in particular and nation in general. He also informed that the education department is trying hard to bring change and improve the overall education scenario in the region under the dynamic leadership of the Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma and seek the support of the teachers to work together for better performance of students in future.

Stating that education is the key element to uplift the society, the Chairman, MNREDA, Rupert Momin highlighted the mantras for success and also urged the students to work hard and sacrifice many things such as friends, enjoyment, etc while studying to achieve their dreams and become successful person in future.

Congratulating the toppers and teachers of these respective schools of the region, the Adviser to the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya, Himalaya Shangpliang informed that this program has been organized in order to inspire, motivate and encourage the students. He then shared his observations that some schools in Garo Hills have performed well and have made a place which was once dominated by schools of Shillong only and made the school and the community proud by achieving good results. However, few schools have performed poorly in these examinations which calls for evaluation and assessment in order to improve the education scenario in the region, he said. Lamenting on the various constraints the teachers faced in the region, he urged them to sacrifice for the interest of the students and emphasized to improve and bring change in the education sector in the State.

During the function, the Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma along with Chairman, MNREDA, Rupert Momin, Adviser to the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya Himalaya Shangpliang felicitated the SSLC of the recently conducted Examination by the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), Tura. 1st Rank holder Samridhya Das from Sherwood Sec. School, 3rd position Ritam Deep Choudhary and Salrime M Sangma from Sherwood Sec. School and St. Xaviers Sec. School respectively, 4th position Ronggrik B Sangma from Aeroville Sec. School, 6th position Sanskrita Karmakar from Sherwood Sec. School, 10th position Pallavi Penang from St. Mary’s Public School, Tikrikilla, 17th position Riktean M Marak and Shelim Islam from Aeroville Sec. School and Bhaitbari Sec School respectively, 18th position Joyrani Das and Raqib Raonaq Abtahee from Jawaharlal Nehru Sec School, Phulbari and Janapriya Sec. School Bholarbita respectively were given Citation, Cash Award and memento during the felicitation.

The Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Education Department, Pravin Bakshi, Director, Directorate of School Education and Literacy, Shillong Swapnil Tembe, Executive Chairman, Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), Ambrose Ch Marak, Joint Director (Administration), MBOSE Manseng Marak were among others who spoke on the occasion while Former MLA, Ferlin A Sangma, Chairman, Tura Municipal Board, J D Sangma, Deputy Commissioners of five districts of Garo Hills, Heads of Departments, Officials from Education Department, Principals, teachers and students attended the SSLC Toppers felicitation function.