Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 98/23

MEGHALAYA ASSEMBLY AWARDED FOR SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEVA

The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has been awarded by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for speedy implementation of the National eVidhan Application. The Meghalaya Assembly is among nine Legislative Assemblies of the country to implement the application. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the award to the Meghalaya Assembly at the National Workshop on NeVA held at the Convention Hall of The Ashok at New Delhi on the 25th of May, 2023. The award was received by Dapborlang Marwein, Computer Programmer and Nodal Officer (NEVA), Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, and Lawanda Lyndem, Deputy Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, Nodal Officer, NeVA.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, and Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar congratulated the team from NeVA and IT Cell, Meghalaya Assembly for their outstanding initiatives in the speedy implementation of NeVA.

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Commissioner and Secretary, Dr. Andrew Simons, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for recognizing the efforts of the State Government and the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat. The members of the Legislative Assembly have found NeVA helpful. I’m sure members will adapt to the new technology and we will cut down the use of papers, the Commissioner and Secretary said.

Speaking on the launch of the NeVA project in the Assembly, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Commissioner and Secretary, Dr. Andrew Simons, informed that on the 27th of March 2020, a State project Monitoring Unit (SPMU) cum NeVA implementation Committee was constituted headed by the Chief Secretary, GoM.

A Tripartite MOU was signed on the 30 th of March 2020 between the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, New Delhi, the Government of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and a House Committee for e-governance and general purpose was constituted on 20th November, 2020.

The Detailed Project Report was finally approved by the State project Monitoring Unit on the 21st of September, 2020 and the project was launched in the state on 18th of March, 2021. The Commissioner and Secretary informed that the project is being funded by the Government of India and the state government at a ratio of 90:10.

Press Release No. 99/23

MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR INAUGURATES NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT ICAR

Meghalaya Governor, Shri Paghu Chauhan today inaugurated a two days National Conference on Rebooting the hill farming for future sustainability and livelihood at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Ri Bhoi District in the presence of Dr V. K. Mishra, Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Dr. Uttam C Sharma, Vice President, International Commission on Water Resources Systems and Dr. K M Bujarbaruah, Former Vice Chancellor, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat. The conference was organized by the Indian Association of Hill Farming and ICAR Research Complex For NEH Region, Umiam as part of celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Institute.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Paghu Chuhan stressed on the need for conservation of forest, water and land resources for the overall and sustainable development of the tribes of the north east region. Adding that agricultural production systems in the region are known to be complex, diverse and at risk, he opined that scientists should go to the fields of the farmers and discuss their problems, and accordingly develop technologies to address the problems.

Pointing out that the North East Region has a large amount of biomass, he stressed on the need to adopt organic and natural farming keeping in mind the balance between food security and environment. He also said that emphasis should be laid on the development of local livestock, especially local breeds of cow, which is a main pillar of the natural farming principle. Citing the example of deficient rainfall in Meghalaya and other parts of the country, the Governor said that concerted efforts should be made in water conservation, especially through rain water harvesting and in-situ soil moisture conservation, so that we can utilize part of the vast water resources for the benefit of the farming community of the region.

On the occasion, the Governor released a Souvenir cum Book of Abstracts and gave away the Indian Association of Hill Farming Awards (IAHF). In recognition of their immense contribution in scientific research and extension the Honorary Fellow Awards were bestowed upon Dr. U C Sharma, Vice President, International Commission on Water Resources Systems and Dr V. K. Mishra, Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam. The IAHF Fellow Awards were awarded to 8 scientists.

To mark the occasion, the Governor also planted tree sapling within the premises of the institute. Agricultural research managers, scientists, academicians, and young student researchers from different parts of the country took part in the Conference.