Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 820/17

ONE DAY STATE LEVEL SEMINAR ON INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Meghalaya Information & Technology Minister, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh today inaugurated the One Day State Level Seminar on Integrated Health Care Services on the theme “Holistic Healthcare” at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong. The programme was organized by Bio-Resources Development Centre in collaboration with Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy (NEIAH), Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board (MSMPS) and Directorate of Health Services. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Lyngdoh lauded the organizers for holding the seminar on the integrated health care services to provide the opportunity for the traditional healers of the State to interact with the professional medical practitioners drawn from different parts of the country in the field of Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. To ensure that the State of Meghalaya join with the rest of the country in providing holistic healthcare benefit to the people, Dr. Lyngdoh stressed on the needs to have a closer coordination between the traditional healers and professional health practitioners. Dr. Lyngdoh expressed hope that the daylong seminar will help in improving the various forms of healthcare services present in the State which includes conventional, ayurvedic, homeopathic and traditional healing. The programme was also attended by Dr. B. D. R. Tiwari, Secretary Planning Department, Dr. R. O. Budnah, DHS, MI, Shri A. S. Tiwari, Managing Director, Traditional Health Care & Research Centre, Kanpur, Dr. Vansh Raj Maurya, Nadee Rashayan Vishesgya and Naturopath Physician, Kanpur, Shri Ram Mahesh Mishra, Director, Vishva Jagriti Mishan Anand Dharm, New Delhi, Prof. Sandra Albert, MD, Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong, Dr. Amul Bahl, Therapist, New Delhi, Shri A. S. Suting, OSD, BRDC, Senior Health Officers and traditional health practitioners. The inaugural programe was followed by the technical session. The resource person for the day includes Prince Kumar Jaiswal, President, Yoga Dharmendra Gurukulam Charitable Society, Dehradun, Dr. Vansh Raj Maurya, Nadee Rashayan Vishesgya and Naturopath Physician, Kanpur, representative from NEIAH and NEIGRIHMS, Shillong.

Press Release No. 821/17

STATE LEVEL ADVOCACY MEETING ON WORLD POPULATION DAY 2017 HELD

The State Level Advocacy Meeting on World Population Day 2017 with a theme “A New Wave, a New Belief/Trust. Families Prosper with Total Responsibility” organized by the National Health Mission, Meghalaya and the Directorate of Health Services (MCH & FW), Government of Meghalaya was held today at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Smti M. Kharkongor graced the programme as Chief Guest. While lamenting the fact that there is a lack of proper education and awareness programmes with regards to family planning, Smti M. Kharkongor said that the rise in population demands a strong mechanism to sensitize people on the adverse effects of population explosion in relation to employment, education, health issues and others. To have a proper family planning and having happier and healthier families, the families themselves must voluntarily take up the cause, she added. She also said that female education in the rural areas holds the key in addressing the ever increasing population growth. Mission Director, NHM, Shri H. M. Shangpliang while delivering his keynote address, stressed on the need to educate and empower people, especially the youth, on the importance of family planning through knowledge and awareness programmes. He also urged the younger generation to spread the message among themselves and also to the rural areas so that people will be made aware about family planning. Also present on the occasion were Dr. D. Lyngdoh, Director of Health Services (MCH&FW), Dr. R. O. Budnah, Director of Health Services (MI) and students from various colleges. World Population day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. Its main objective is to highlight the causes of population explosion and put forward remedial strategies for better and healthier lives. The World Population Day activities in Meghalaya have been observed for over a month-long period starting with ‘Mobilization Fortnight’ from 27th June to 10th July, 2017 and ‘Population Stabilization Fortnight’ from 10th-24th July, 2017.

Press Release No. 822/17

DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ISSUES DIRECTIVES TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS

On receiving notice that unabated littering is taking place in Golf Links, Police Bazar areas, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills, has under Section 133 CrPC, directed all persons and concerned agencies to maintain cleanliness in and around the vicinity of the areas mentioned above and also around the respective areas of business in these areas. The District Magistrate also directed the public to ensure segregation of waste and proper disposal during and after business hours and ensure that no indiscriminate dumping of garbage around the vicinity of these areas takes place. The order is to be complied with immediately, failing which stern action shall be initiated against the defaulters.

Press Release No. 824/17

HIGH-YIELDING DAIRY COWS DISTRIBUTED TO FARMERS

Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma today distributed high yielding variety of cattle to five SHG partners of Betasing C&RD Block in South West Garo Hills under the ambitious Livestock Mission of the Government at an impressive function at Ampati on Monday. The programme for distribution of dairy cows was organized by the AH & Veterinary Department in collaboration with Basin Development Unit, South West Garo Hills and was also attended by Chairperson, Meghalaya Resources & Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira, Chairperson, State Development Reforms Commission, Bluebell R. Sangma, CEM, GHADC Boston Marak, Deputy Commissioner C.V.D.Diengdoh, host of district officials, veterinarians and dairy farmers among others. 10,000 families in the state, 5000 families from three blocks of Garo Hills and 5000 from three blocks of Khasi-Jaintia Hills, will benefit from the Dairy Farming scheme wherein high milk yielding variety of Holstein Friesian (HF) cattle are being given to the dairy farmers on a cluster approach. The scheme is aimed at creating livelihood opportunities for the rural farmers Stressing on the need to create livelihood space for all sections of the population, the Chief Minister said that dairy is the fastest growing sector which can open up a lot of ancillary activities and take care of the issues of unemployment in the State. He said that the government is striving hard to reverse the trend of rural to urban migration in search of opportunities and ensure livelihood opportunities in their own backyards. “Dairy farming has evolved with technological interventions and we want to make it attractive and ensure a sustainable model for economic prosperity”, he added. He informed that a lot of comprehensive interventions have been taken up by the government to provide livelihood opportunities and dairy farming was part and parcel of the Livestock Mission, an ambitious programme of the government implemented in convergence with Veterinary and Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP). The Chief Minister also informed that HF breed of cattle had withstood the test of time and has been found to be suitable to be reared by farmers in the State. The breed can yield up to 40 litres of milk per day and generate minimum income of Rs.16,000 per month, if the animal is properly nurtured. He assured the farmers that the Government would extend support for collection of milk, distribution and further value addition for production of different milk products, adding that there would be continuous handholding support to the farmers as well as capacity building trainings for value addition of milk products. “We would train our youth and farmers to produce handmade chocolates, cheese and other dairy products in Garo Hills”, he said and urged upon the youth to take advantage of the livelihood activities that would revolve around dairy farming. Highlighting on the economics of dairy farming, the Chief Minister himself gave useful tips to the farmers for rearing of these breed of cows to ensure their success. Deputy Commissioner CVD Diengdoh, CEM, GHADC Boston Marak, Joint Director, AH & Vety, Dr. A. Bose and District Veterinary Officer, Dr. P K Marak were among others who also spoke on the occasion.