Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 412/11

SADBHAVANA DIWAS OBSERVED IN SHILLONG

Shillong, August 19, 2011: Meghalaya observed the Sadbhavana Diwas on August 19, 2011 at the Main Secretariat premises, Shillong. The Sadbhavana pledge was administered by the Meghalaya Minister of Forest and Environment, Mr. P. Tynsong. Among others who were present on the occasion were the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. W. M. S. Pariat, Senior Government officials and other Government employees.

Before administering the pledge, Mr. Tynsong in his speech recalled the various initiatives taken by the late Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi for all round development of the country especially in the fields of Science and Technology and Human Resource Development. He also informed that the Sadbhavana Diwas was observed to promote good will, national integrity and communal harmony among the people of India irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Press Release No. 413/11

NIRMAL GRAM PURASKAR 2010 DISTRIBUTED

Shillong, August 19, 2011: 89 villages receives the Nirmal Gram Puraskar 2010 at the impressive function held today at So So Tham Auditorium, Shillong. The villages include 57 from East Khasi Hills, 29 from West Khasi Hills, 1 form Ri-Bhoi and 2 from Jaintia Hills Districts.

The Award distribution ceremony, organized by the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development Government of India in collaboration with the Public Health Engineering, Government of Meghalaya. Mr. Shitlang Pale, PHE Minister graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while Mr. W. M. S Pariat, Chief Secretary was the Guest of Honour. Among others who attended the programme include Mr. P. W. Ingty, Principal Secretary, PHE Department, Mr. J. Lyngdoh, Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District and Mr. M. Kharmujai, Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District.

The Nirmal Gram Puraskar NGP was launched by the Government of India in October 2003 to encourage the implementation of the Total Sanitation Campaign TSC. The Nirmal Gram Puraskar seeks to recognize the efforts made by the institutions and villages who have contributed significantly towards ensuring clean and full sanitation coverage in their area of operation.

The Total Sanitation Campaign lays a strong emphasis on Information, Education and Communication IEC, capacity building and hygiene education for effective behavior change with the involvement of villages, NGOs and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shitlang Pale said that the main objective of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar was to bring about greater awareness about sanitation. He also informed that Total Sanitation Campaign TSC is a comprehensive programme to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas with the broader goal to eradicate the practice of open defecation.

Mr. Pale called upon the awardee villages to maintain community and personal hygiene and clean environment to set example for other villages to emulate them so as to enable the State of Meghalaya to achieve the goal of Total Sanitation by 2017 as laid down by Total Sanitation Campaign Guidelines.

The Chief Guest and other high officials present on the occasion gave away the award to all the 89 villages and later a pledge was administered by Mr. D. Syiemiong, BDO, Mawphlang C and RD Block.