Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 246/22

MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR INAUGURATED NEW SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BUILDING

Meghalaya Governor, Shri. Satya Pal Malik today inaugurated the new school and college building of Shri. Kanchi Kamakoti Vidya Bharati Vidyalaya at Mawbah, Barapathar, Shillong.

Addressing the gathering Shri. Satya Pal Malik lamented the fact that the education sector is not given its due importance in the country. Informing that barely 6 percent of the country budget is utilized for education, he said that while universities in the USA and UK have hundreds of Nobel Peace Prizes, India boasts of only 12. Terming the Indian education system as lacking quality due to lack of attention, he reiterated the need for people to embrace education and said that empowerment of any society can only come through education. The Governor also lauded the Kanchi Kamakoti Shankara Health, Education and Charitable Trust for taking the stride in making a positive impact in the field of education through their immense contribution at the ground level.

The new school building is constructed on the land donated by the Geonka family of Shillong and has been imparting education till class 10 since 2004. The new building was constructed by Kanchi Kamakoti Shankara Health, Education and Charitable Trust while the day to day administration of the school will be carried out by Purvottar Janajati Shiksha Samiti and Meghalaya Shiksha Smiti.

Press Release No. 247/22

CXO MEET 2022

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana Meghalaya today held a CxO Meet 2022 at State Convention Centre, Shillong wherein Shri Hamletson Dohling, Minister Community and Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Addressing the programme, the Minister stated that the goals of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India while announcing DDUGKY in 2014 is to transform the rural poor youth into an economically independent and globally relevant work force. He said DDU-GKY has enabled the youth of the state to leverage the opportunity provided through its platform which can give them sustainable employment. During the programme Minister Community & Rural Development also released the Skill Gap Analysis Report and handed the Award for the Best PIA to Wazir and Advisors Pvt Ltd. Skill Icons from the state were also felicitated during the programme.

Press Release No. 248/22

PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SCHEME LAUNCHED IN EAST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT

The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Smti Isawanda Laloo, today launched the Payment for Ecosystem Services Scheme at the Conference Hall, Deputy Commissioner Office, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong. The programme was organised by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in collaboration with the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency and District Project Management Unit, East Khasi Hills. It may be mentioned that the PES scheme in the state was launched by the Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma on June 13, 2022.

This scheme provides benefits through financial support of Rs. 8000 per hectare per year for five years. In addition, an additional reward amount of Rs. 5000 per hectare per year will also be given to those natural forests already registered as community reserve with the Forest Department and an amount of Rs 2000 per hectare per year will be given to those with a very dense forests or traditionally recognized as sacred grove or has a living root bridge or located in eco sensitive zones around protected areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuary or wildlife corridors. If the forests are not yet registered, the applicant may apply for registration with the forest department and a copy of receipt may be submitted while applying for the PES scheme.

Smti. I Laloo in her address highlighted the objectives of PES, stating that the scheme, being implemented under Community Led Landscape Management Project is aimed at providing financial support to the villages, communities, clans and individuals willing to conserve existing natural forests for a period of 30 years in order to counter the losses due to conservation measures and sought the cooperation of all concerned for successful implementation of the scheme in the district. Stating that Meghalaya being a 6th schedule state, major parts of forest cover belong to the communities and emphasise that through this scheme the villages and communities can be strengthened and empowered in order to maintain and conserve their forests.

Press Release No. 249/22

AWARENESS ON SENIOR CITIZENS ACT 2007 HELD IN SWGH

Senior citizens of Anangpara and neighboring areas in South West Garo Hills district were on June 29 made aware of their constitutional and medical rights under the senior citizens Act 2007 at a modest gathering near here. Organized by the District Social Welfare Officer the awareness programme aimed at creating consciousness amongst the populace on maintenance and welfare of senior citizens, senior citizens Act 2007 and other essential services available to the elderly.

The instances of abandonment of elderly parents by their children, ill treatment and neglect etc though uncommon in the region it is essential to make the populace aware of the constitutional rights of the elderly so as to safeguard them informed Betasing CDPO and in charge District Social Welfare Officer Zanera R Marak. Medical and Health Officer Dr Matgrik K Sangma and District Legal Services Authority Advocate Sameer Chakravorty attended the programme as resource persons.

Speaking on the medical aspects of elderly rights and care Dr. Matgrik K Sangma said that senior citizens were entitled to special rights in medical facilities. He informed that the elderly were exempted from queuing and were entitled to prompt medical care and facilities. He elaborated on various afflictions faced by the elderly and urged them to take care of themselves by taking regular medical checkups. He also spoke on the nutritional needs during old age, holistic aging, MHIS and National Programme for Health Care.

Shedding light on the senior citizen’s Act 2007 advocate Sameer Chakravorty spoke on legal actions that can be taken on perpetrators who shirk responsibilities or abandon their parents or elderly kin. He informed that all cases pertaining to the Act would be taken up free of cost by DLSA supported by the DSWO. He also assured the gathering that the DLSA would do its best to deliver justice to the elderly if the need arises.

Press Release No. 250/22

NATIONAL STATISTICS DAY 2022 OBSERVED IN RI BHOI DISTRICT

As part of the recognition for the outstanding contribution of Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of economic planning and statistical developments, the District Statistics Office, Ri Bhoi District Nongpoh together with nationwide observed the National Statistics Day on the theme Data for sustainability Development on 29th June at District Library Auditorium Hall, Nongpoh in the midst presence of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Smt. V.A Hynniewta, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Others presented includes Shri H.B Lyngdoh, District Statistics Officer, Shri C.N Areng, Inspector and Shri B.Pyngrope, Sub Inspector.

Shri H.B Lyngdoh, District Statistics Officer in his keynote address highlighted on the importance of the day, saying that this day is being observed every year on 29th June to commemorate the birth anniversary of P.C Mahalanobis, the great professor and scientist who rendered a notable contribution in the field of statistics and economic planning. And this is the reason that the Government of India has designated this day 29th June every year coinciding with his birth anniversary as Statistics day. He also informed that statistic day was first celebrated in 2007 June, 29th. Hence, this day is being observed every year as part of creating awareness among students about the importance of statistic in policy formulation and socio-economic planning.

The Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Smti. V.A Hynniewta in her speech lauded the office of the Statistic for conducting such an important programme. She said that statistics play a special part and a key role in social development, it helps in shaping and framing policy, hence it is the need of the hour to create awareness among the masses about the importance of statistics in daily life and in process of planning and development. She urged young students to expand their learning and popularize the use of statistics in their everyday life so that they can be at par with others for all round development.

Press Release No. 251/22

OVER 3000 STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM ASPIRE MEGHALAYA SOFT SKILLS TRAINING AND TALENT IDENTIFICATION

3182 students from 15 campuses across districts graduated from Aspire Meghalaya at functions held in their respective school premises this month. The Aspire Meghalaya programme places youth engagement, talent identification and career aspirations at the heart of its interventions. A key objective of the programme is to assess training gaps and talent potential in seen and previously unseen skill and talent domains amongst adolescents and young adults across the State.

The programme commenced its first phase in March earlier this year in its aim to provide a safe space for young voices to be heard, by approaching and engaging young adults between the ages of 14 to 20 across districts through the Meghalaya Youth Survey which had, till date, reached over 50,000 adolescent youths, constituting 30 percent of the target youth demographic of the State. The second phase of the programme was launched earlier this month to address the significant gap in life skills and career preparedness in the current education framework by imparting universally employable soft skills through on-campus Soft Skills and Life Preparedness interventions. Modules specially designed to build Confidence, Clarity of Thought, Communication Skills and Emotional Resilience were delivered through 20 hour, high impact workshops over a period of 10 days in campuses across districts.

Speaking at one of the graduation functions, Salanbor Kamar, SSA office, Education Department, lauded the combined efforts of the participating campuses and the implementation agency in successfully facilitating the 10-day programme in each campus. Addressing the students, he said, this particular program is especially designed for you, the youth of the State, to help you find yourself, identify your heart desires and choose the right career for your future. He further added that through the initiative, the District Sports Office under the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs would be able to provide guidance, particularly in sports related career options, with the hopes of seeing increased representation of Meghalaya in all National and International platforms.

A huge part of the Aspire Meghalaya initiative is the identification of emerging talents in remote areas of the State through a Talent Identification platform that is the third stage of the intervention. Talent exhibition platforms are being integrated into the initiative that places the participating campuses at the heart of the programme. Schools play a key role in identifying the top talents to represent their respective campuses at the district level. A District Talent Committee is formed to identify the top talents from each district who will then converge at a State Youth Summit, where the State’s top talents will have been selected via public votes as the Aspire Meghalaya Stars.

Chief Minister Shri. Conrad K. Sangma launched the programme earlier this year as a flagship initiative under the Meghalaya Youth Engagement and Training Programmes. Speaking at the launch event, he said, Aspire Meghalaya is a unique programme designed for the youth of our State. It provides young people with a platform to learn and develop the critical skill sets needed to build meaningful lives and careers with passion and self belief, while also focussing on talent identification and wellbeing.

Press Release No. 252/22

NATIONAL STATISTICS DAY CELEBRATED AT AMPATI

To mark the birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and celebrate his notable contribution in the field of economic planning and the statistical development, South West Garo Hills district observed National Statistics Day at Multi Facility Centre, Ampati, with the theme Data for Sustainable Development.

The program was organised by District Statistical Office, Ampati, under the aegis of Ministry of Statistics and Program implementation, Government of India, with a motive to spread awareness about the use of statistics in everyday life and policy making, was attended by students, teachers and officers of various line departments. To mark the occasion, quiz competition was also organised for the youths and school students.

Speaking about the importance of data collection in the field of education, AVD Shira, Additional Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills, who attended the program as the Chief Guest, spoke particularly to students and said that during HSSLC and SSLC result, statistics helped to determine the overall performance of the students from across the district. She also encouraged the students to focus on subjects like Mathematics and walk in the footsteps of Professor Mahalanobis.

Press Release No. 253/22

AWARENESS MEET WITH PM-WANI STAKEHOLDERS HELD IN SHILLONG

Department of Telecommunications, Northeast Licensed Service Area on Tuesday conducted the third virtual meet with PMWANI Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface stakeholders in Shillong, Meghalaya.

During the meeting a presentation was made covering the PMWANI framework and benefits to small merchants and shops. Details of the Public Data Operators Aggregators active in the North Eastern States were also shared so that prospective PDOs can contact them. An interactive session was also conducted, which provided a platform to prospective PDOs to directly interact with PDOAs to know their business plans and how they can become PDOs. Sr. DDG, Head of DoT North East unit, Shri Ravi Goel encouraged local shops and small establishments to become Wi-Fi Hotspot providers i.e. Public Data Office and earn extra income from selling internet.

Press Release No. 254/22

MEETING WITH STATE GOVT AND MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONERS FOR ELIMINATION OF IDENTIFIED SINGLE USE PLASTIC

A meeting was organised with 42 million plus cities, urban agglomerations regarding elimination of single use plastic items as well as air quality management. The meeting was attended by the Municipal Commissioners and senior officials of the State Governments from Environment, Urban Development and Local Self Government Departments and State Pollution Control Boards.

During the meeting, the Municipal Commissioners were informed about the ban on identified SUP items that will come into effect from 1st July 2022. It was informed that the notification was published on 12th August 2021. The Municipal Commissioners were requested to lead their teams with regard to efforts for enforcement within their jurisdiction. They were requested to help all stakeholders including traders, distributors, retailers as well as consumers to switch over to alternatives of the banned SUP items. It was highlighted that the success of the ban will be possible with effective engagement and concerted actions by all the stakeholders. The Municipal Commissioners assured effective enforcement and taking up of constructive engagement with the stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the ban and switch over to alternatives to the banned SUP items.

Press Release No. 255/22

RELIEF FUNDS DISTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIM OF NATURAL CALAMITIES IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT

The Minister of Social Welfare Department, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, etc, Shri. Kyrmen Shylla along with the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, Shri. A. Baranwal, today distributed relief funds to the victims affected due to natural calamities in East Jaintia Hills District. The felicitation programme was organized by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat in the Conference room of the Deputy Commissioner Office, Khliehriat.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management Department, etc, Shri. Kyrmen Shylla said that the disaster relief fund is distributed to the victims based on the damages caused by the calamities as per the damage assessment and the prescribed norms and guidelines of the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund. He praised the Deputy Commissioner, the Officer and staff of the District Disaster Management Authority for their swift response in assessing the damages during any form of calamities and for providing immediate financial assistance to the families and individuals affected by calamities such as fire, flood, landslide, etc, so that they can recover from their losses, for rebuilding and restarting their activities.

The Minister also urged the other districts of the State as well to follow the same procedure and speed up the process of distributing relief funds to victims affected by natural calamities. He also advised the public to report and inform the District Administration, Block Development Officers, Gram Sevak, and their local headmen in cases of any natural calamity in their respective villages for immediate response and relief.

Earlier in the programme, the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Shri. A. Baranwal, said that the District Administration is trying its best to ensure that the relief funds are distributed to the victims of natural calamities at the earliest possible. He also informed that during the programme, a total amount of Rs. 17,48,924 will be distributed as relief funds to 58 victims affected by natural disasters in the District.

Press Release No. 256/22

WEST GARO HILLS OBSERVES NATIONAL STATISTICS DAY

West Garo Hills District observed the National Statistics Day, 2022 with the theme, Data for Sustainable Development in a program organized by the office of the District Statistical Officer at SMELC Building, Tura, thereby commemorating the birth anniversary of the Father of Indian Statistics, PC Mahalanobis on 29 June.

West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe, spoke at length on data driven government, data and statistics and sustainable development goals basing on which the decisions are taken by the Govt. He also informed that the Govt. of Meghalaya is going to release funds this year so that the districts can achieve the sustainable goals.

Wellstar Marak, Agriculture Development Officer, while speaking on the importance of statistics and highlighted the gathering about how the data and statistics helped the policy makers, the economists, etc. to take the decisions.

During the program, trophies and certificates also were distributed to the winners of debate and quiz competitions held earlier where the schools like Sherwood, Capt. William’s School, Kendriya Vidiyalaya and others participated.

Press Release No. 257/22

KNOWLEDGE SHARING EVENT OF BEST PRACTICES HELD IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT

The District Project Management Unit of Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, East Jaintia Hills District today organized a Knowledge Sharing Event of Best Practices at Khliehriat West Community Hall, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat. Shri. Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat attended the programme as the Chief Guest. The programme started with a presentation by the selected farmers and entrepreneurs from different villages who shared their knowledge, practices, and success stories.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Shri. Abhilash Baranwal, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat said that the programme was organized to celebrate the achievements of the entrepreneurs as well sharing the best practices and cultivate a discussion among the entrepreneurs, members of the community, and the line Departments.Meghalaya is a very young society in terms of the average age of the population,he said, while also stating that the Central and the State government is providing adequate thrust on education and that most of the youth will be completing their education however, everyone will not be getting a government job, so it is very important to cultivate entrepreneurs amongst the local population so as to sustain themselves and also provide jobs to others and take care of their own family. Since most of our consumption is coming from outside the state, there is a huge untapped market that if we start producing the same thing here we will be able to sustain a very large number of families, he added.