Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 779/17

WORLD POPULATION DAY OBSERVED

World Population Day under the theme: ‘A New Wave, A new Belief, Families prosper with Total Responsibility’ was observed today at Mawphlang PHC, under Mawphlang C&RD Block to focus on the need to create awareness on the importance of population stabilization of the country at a level consistent with the requirement of national economy. The programme was organized by the Office of the District Medical and Health Officer, East Khasi Hills District and attended by Shri K. C. Khyriem, Parliamentary Secretary Tourism and local MLA as the Chief Guest in the presence of Shri L. Blah, local MDC, Dr. (Miss) E. Dkhar, DMHO, Dr. J. B. Ranee, DMCH Officer, students, teachers and local populace of Mawphlang and adjoining villages. The World Population Day 2017 was observed over a month long period comprising of mobilization fortnight from 27th June to 10th July and population stabilization fortnight from 11th to 24th July, 2017. During the fortnight, various activities will be conducted in all health centers like showing films, posters and advocating the need for population stabilization, stalls for counselling, use of contraceptive and other spacing methods, need for delay in marriage and first child birth could be displayed and family planning services such as IUCD insertion, tubectomy and vasectomy etc. is ensured. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Khyriem urged the people to take advantage of the various health facilities available in all the health centers to know about the importance of family planning, maternal and child health, adolescent counselling. He also urged the people to come forward and enroll with the Megha Health Insurance Scheme so that they can avail the benefits of MHIS smart card in all the Hospital Empanelled with MHIS. During the day the Chief Guest distributed prizes to the winners of the extempore speech and slogan writing competition. At Jowai, the World Population Day was observed at Jowai District Hospital, Ialong. The District Health Society, West Jaintia Hills observed this day in the Hospital campus to capture the attention of people coming to Hospital, aiming to create awareness and educate the people on the ways and means of how to space pregnancies in order to have a happy and healthy family. The programme was attended by Dr. M.Talang, Joint Director, Health Service, Dr. S.S Nongbri, DMHO, Jowai, Dr. (Mrs) L. Challam, Medical Superintendent, Jowai, Dr. S. Sumer, Gynaecologist, Dr. (Mrs) V. Laloo, i/c MCH Officer among others.

Press Release No. 780/17

MAWSHYNRUT CIVIL SUB DIVISION INAUGURATED

Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma inaugurated the Mawshynrut Civil Sub Division at an impressive function held at Mawshynrut on 10th July in the presence of Minister, Home & Political Department, H D R Lyngdoh and MLA, Mawshynrut, W Mawsor. Addressing the gathering in his Inaugural Address, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma while expressing joy in inaugurating the Civil Subdivision and dedicating it to the people of the area said that the government has been able to respond to the aspirations and expectations of the people. He also said that addressing the disparities in respect of development is the concern of the government. “This part of the state is one of the most difficult areas where developmental disparities is hugely visible and the creation of the civil subdivision and other infrastructures will ensure efficient and effective administration and delivery,” he said. He also added that a sense of well being and satisfaction among the people substantiates the power of Democracy and creation of civil subdivisions, C & RD Blocks, Police Stations and other infrastructures and achievements in the state is the gift of Democracy. He further said that the government has adopted a multi pronged approach to ensure that people are not living in fear and insecurity. Dr Sangma also said that it is an uphill task to create opportunities for the people of the state but the government is committed to create an enabling and conducive environment within the state so that the youth and future generations need not go outside for Education and livelihood opportunities. The Chief Minister also informed that the government has worked with complete engagement of all stakeholders in all contentious issues that the state faces and will continue its commitment towards the people of the state.

Earlier, Principal Secretary, Home & Political Department, M S Rao read out the Notification and handed over the documents to the SDO (Civil), K L Nongbri. Mawshynrut Civil Sub Division comprises of 258 villages with its Headquarters at Mawshynrut. The Chief Minister also unveiled the commemorative Inaugural Plaque during the occasion. Among others who spoke during the Inaugural Function were Minister, Home etc H D R Lyngdoh, MLA, Mawshynrut, W Mawsor and Deputy Commisioner, West Khasi Hills, Arunkumar Kembhavi who gave the Welcome Address. The function was also attended by MLA, Mawkyrwat, Rowell Lyngdoh, MLA, Rambrai Jyngram, Phlastingwell Pangniang, MLA, Nongstoin, D Jyndiang, MLA, Rongjeng, Sengnam Marak , MDCs of Mawshynrut and Rambrai. Over five thousand people comprising of villagers of the area, students and district officers attended the function that was held at the premises of Christ King School, Bangla Pluh, Mawshynrut. The newly created civil subdivision will function from the old PHC until a permanent office is created.

Press Release No. 781/17

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHES LIFE FLAGSHIP PROGRAMME

Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today launched the State’s ambitious flagship programme “Livelihood Intervention and Facilitation of Entrepreneurship” (LIFE) programme for the entire state at Songsak in East Garo Hills and dedicated the project to the people. The Chief Minister accompanied by School Education and Literacy minister Deborah Marak and a host of other dignitaries including Parliamentary Secretaries Cherak Momin, Brigady N Marak and Sengnam M Marak also inaugurated the new Songsak Kasturbha Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) School at St Francis Secondary School premises, Songsak, East Garo Hills. Speaking at the launch of the programme, Dr Sangma said that the programme of the State Government is “most inclusive” unlike the central schemes, which are mostly meant for the “below poverty line”. He said that the Government with its convergence of thoughts and actions has been making efforts to reach out to the people with different sustainable and livelihood programmes to empower and enable the people for economic prosperity. “I have been designing programmes to include everybody in the state of Meghalaya, so that each one of us benefits from the schemes”, he said. He urged the people to form SHGs in their respective areas and under LIFE different activities would be started to ensure that people are able to generate income and eradicate poverty. “We will ensure that people can generate income in their own backward by providing them assistance to do plantation and other income generating activities through different livelihood missions of the State”, he said. He said that the main idea of LIFE was to ensure that there is reverse in trend, where people would migrate from urban areas to rural areas for taking up activities, which revolves on agriculture, horticulture and other allied sectors. He said that there were rich natural resources in Garo hills and people should take advantage of the resources and judiciously use it for their prosperity.

On road connectivity at Songsak, he said that few years ago the road network in this area was very bad and since the road connectivity to Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya and neighbouring Assam has been improved the people should take benefit of the road network to engage in business and other entrepreneurial activities. “To bridge the economic disparity and ensure progress, LIFE will be implemented across the State, so that there is inclusive development”, the Chief Minister asserted, while informing the people on the slew of initiatives taken up by the government to meet their aspirations.

Highlighting the Government’s efforts to reach out to the people to ensure accelerated growth, Deborah Marak said, “The people of Garo hills have to partner with the project and reap its benefit”. She urged the people to make the legislators accountable so that there is transparency in the state. “There is lack of development in different parts of Meghalaya. Different schemes were launched to reach out to the people but many have failed as beneficiaries have been left out”, Marak added, while urging the people to understand the programme of the Government and receive its benefits.

Earlier, Commissioner and Secretary Community and Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya Sampath Kumar termed the launching of LIFE as an important milestone in taking forward the SHG movement in Meghalaya. Kumar informed that the government envisages reducing poverty by building capacity and linking the SHGs to different financial institutions. “LIFE will give support to every block in the state and supplement the efforts of NRLM and encourage NGOs and village employment councils (VECs) to further organise women into SHGs”. He told that Meghalaya has a total of over 4 lakh active job card holders and if one female member is encouraged to be part of the SHG, there will be a total of 40,000 SHGs. “We have a clear goal and vision to promote SHG movement in the State particularly in rural areas. SHGs is the only effective way to reduce large scale poverty and enhance livelihood and security for the people”, Kumar said. Informing that LIFE will focus on capacity building, Kumar said that under the programme every 10 SHGs will be motivated to act like a bank and help each other. “Last year under MGNREGA Meghalaya received 500 cr and if 10 per cent of wages are saved than around 50 cr can be saved each year”, Kumar said, which informing the people that government would be encouraging formation of thrift societies for credit flow to farmers and women members. He enlightened the people that the government has envisaged to build a strong SHG network in Meghalaya to push development activities at the grassroot level.

LIFE aims to bring all the poor and vulnerable women into the SHGs movement, by emphasizing on reviving the inactive functional ones and include them within the ongoing LIFE project. The programme will be implemented in the line with National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in the remaining non NRLM blocks with an objective to support the community through the SHGs formation. It will also motivate and encourage every woman from every household under NREGA job cardholders and form SHGs. The Village Employment Council (VECs) functionaries are being used to assists the NGO in social mobilization and prepare them for transition into NRLM, and strengthen the existing SHGs. LIFE is a programme of the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS), an agency of the Community and Rural Development department, Government of Meghalaya implementing the flagship programme of the Government of India - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). NRLM also promotes livelihood through women SHGs and their Federations. The programme lays its thrust on improving the livelihood of rural poor in a sustainable manner through the process of SHGs, Village organisation and Producers Groups.