Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 240/22

UMLYNGKA MILK COLLECTION CENTRE INAUGURATED BY THE CHIEF MINSTER

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in presence of Minister in charge Community and Rural Development etc. Hamletson Dohling today inaugurated the Milk Collection Centre of the Umlyngka Primary Milk Producer Cooperative Society Ltd. at Umlyngka, Upper Shillong. The infrastructure is funded under the Chief Minister's Special Rural Development Fund and Special Rural Works Programme scheme with a project cost of around Rs. 37 lakhs. The new building has a chilling unit and testing facilities to maintain quality checks of the milk collected at the centre.

Delivering his inaugural address the Chief Minister congratulated the cooperative society for the milestone achievement while also assuring the Government’s continued support to dairy farmers in the State. The Chief Minister informed that there is a deficit of 50 to 60 percent in the State milk production and therein lies a huge opportunity for the local dairy farmers to meet the market demand for milk in the State. He also underlined the important role of dairy cooperative societies in making the State self reliant in milk production. Almost close to 2.5 lakh metric tons of milk is required and more than 50 to 60 percent is not available which means there is a huge market within the State of Meghalaya itself, he added.

During his address C and RD Minister, Hamletson Dohling, said that the Umlyngka Primary Milk Producer Cooperative Society which has been in existence for the past 32 years is a role model for other cooperative societies in the region and its success is a great example and an encouragement for others to take up dairying.

Chairman of the Shillong Milk Union and founding member of the Umlyngka Primary Milk Producer Cooperative Society, P. R. Kharbteng gave a brief overview of the Umlyngka Primary Milk Producer Cooperative Society Ltd.

The Umlyngka Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society is one of the first Dairy Cooperative Society in Meghalaya formed in 1990, with an aim to encourage dairy farming in the village and to improve the livelihood of the villagers. The Society produces more than 4,500 LPD with 120 active dairy farmers contributing to the production of the said amount of milk. The individual farmer brings the milk produced at his farm to the cooperative which is then processed and marketed through the East Khasi Hills District Cooperative Milk Union Ltd. Shillong. The Umlyngka Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society has its own Bulk Milk chilling Unit and Road milk Tanker provided through a central sector scheme under National Programme of Dairy Development. The Meghalaya Milk Mission scheme has also contributed to the growth of each farmer through the Cooperative Societies across the village. The Umlyngka Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society has now increased its production of milk through the Meghalaya Milk Mission scheme.

Press Release No. 241/22

SKILL MELA UNDER SKILLS MEGHALAYA HELD IN JOWAI

A two day Skill Mela organized by the Meghalaya State Skills Development Society under Labour Department in Kiang Nongbah Government College Auditorium, Jowai was inaugurated by the local MLA Jowai and Chairman MCCL, Shri. Wailadmiki Shylla in the presence of the Executive Director, MSSDS ADC West Jaintia Hills District and the Principal Kiang Nongbah Government College.

During his inaugural speech, the MLA Skill Development interventions play a crucial role in arming the youth with the required skill sets to the path of achieving self dependency and a growing career. He emphasized the need for such intervention to focus to make youth more productive in the local economy i.e. they should either lead to self-employment or employment within the State.

The Executive Director, Shri. Shivansh Awasthi, informed that the Skill Mela has been organized under the Skill Meghalaya Programme which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Shri. Conrad K Sangma earlier in March 2022. He mentioned that Skill Meghalaya is a cohesive skill formation, entrepreneurship and placement framework for State based on the current and emerging needs of the economies of the State that envisions to design and implement practical programmes for youth development and youth empowerment. It shall cover 1.2 Lakh youth in the next five years. He shared that in less than six months since its launch, 34 local training providers have been empanelled with a target of training 2595 youth in 14 sectors offering 35 trades in 44 training centres across 12 Districts.

The Skill Mela is a two day event focused on three important areas such as connecting job seekers with the employers through the Job Fair, provide a platform for entrepreneurs to show case indigenous crafts and local produce in the Haat Bazaar and at the same time reach out to the youth and inform them about the various options of skilling interventions available to them and to facilitate enrolment into such programmes. It has a total of 45 stalls to 25 stalls for the Haat Bazaar where local entrepreneurs are showcasing local products. Trainees under Skill Meghalaya undergoing training in food processing, etc have also set up their stalls in the Haat Bazaar. There are 10 stalls in the Job Fair Section where 10 employers of the State are participating and offering jobs in the sectors of Banking, IT, Hospitality, Unarmed Security, Insurance, Sales, Services, Automobile and Healthcare to mention a few. Trainees undergoing training under Skill Meghalaya in the Jaintia region also participated in the Job Fair to register themselves for the jobs available. The remaining stalls are for trainee mobilization and enrolment with the various empanelled training providers.

The Mela also had a live band performing in the evening. MSSDS is taking concrete steps to upgrading its skilling eco-system. It will not only organize more of such Skill Melas to ensure better awareness of the programme and what the Society has to offer but will also reprioritize skilling programs to generate decent local employment and economically empower youth.

Press Release No. 242/22

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OBSERVED IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the theme Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis was observed today the 27th June, 2022 at Dong Wahshnong L.P School, Rymbai Village, East Jaintia Hills District. The Programme was organized by the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, East Jaintia Hills District in collaboration with the Office of the District Medical and Health Officer, Adolescent Health Clinic, Khliehriat, and the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society, Self Help Groups.

Addressing the gathering, Smti. R. Passah, District Social Welfare Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, said that the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is observed every year on the 26th of June to focus on raising awareness to the public about drug abuse and its impact on the society. She further stated that the increase in the demand for illegal drugs is because there is a supply, and efforts have been made for demand reduction by conducting awareness programmes and educating the public on the ill effect of substance abuse, and alcoholism on the individual, the family, and the society at large. She appealed to the parents and all sections of the society to work together with the government departments and the NGOs in eradicating this menace for the welfare of the youth in the district.

Smt. R. Patlong, Programme Manager, MCSWA, spoke on the types of drugs and elaborated on the experimental stage, availability of drugs, peer pressure, addiction stage, etc. She also spoke about the economic and social impact of drug abuse and its consequences on families, education, and discrimination among others.

Shri. W. Lato, Sub Inspector, Office of the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, spoke at length about the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. He highlighted the aims and objectives, provisions, and punishments under the NDPS Act. Others who also spoke were Smt. Daphihi Passah, Adolescent Health Counselor, Khliehriat Civil Hospital, and Shri. P.S. Dkhar, Supervisor, Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, East Jaintia Hills District who offered the vote of thanks.

During the programme, prizes were distributed to the winners of the drawing competition which was conducted as part of the observation of the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The other highlights of the observation includes a bike rally organized by the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, East Jaintia Hills District in collaboration with the Tuber Biker’s and Tour Association from Tuber Kmaishnong village to Dienchynrum village and the distribution of pamphlets on drug abuse to the public.