Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 914/17

MEGHALAYA SUPER-60 PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

With the aim to enable the top 60 meritorious students of Meghalaya to secure high ranks in entrance examinations for engineering & medical in 2019, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister for Information Technology & Communication (IT&C) launched the Meghalaya “Super-60” programme today at Yojana Bhavan Auditorium, Meghalaya Secretariat. Addressing the function as Chief Guest, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh said that with this initiative, students from the State will get an opportunity to pursue their career and get the most out of the coaching programme to compete in the IIT-JEE and NEET examinations. Stating that the tablets have been well equipped, well-designed and structured in such a way that students will not feel any shortage of resources in their studies, Dr. Lyngdoh urged upon the students to give their best and to persevere in their endeavours and appealed the parents to spent time with their children and to give them support and to help them reach the pinnacle of success. The Meghalaya Super-60 programme is being organized by the Meghalaya Information Technology Society (MITS), IT&C Department, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with reputed ed-tech firm M/s Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, popularly known as “Byju’s”. The programme aims to provide a digitally enabled personalized learning experience for the selected students. For this purpose, MITS has set-up an e-Learning Centre at the IT&C Department. This centre will provide multi-faceted services to the selected students, including high-speed internet, printers, scanners, information support for various exams and as venue for face-to-face contact programmes and national level tests. The Government of Meghalaya desires to encourage meritorious & needy students of the State not only to excel in their Board examinations but also to get admission into top professional colleges in the country by securing high ranks in entrance examinations like Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for Engineering & National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for Medical.

This coaching program is meant for 60 meritorious Class XI Tribal students of Meghalaya (including those from BPL families) – hence the name Super 60. The coaching is for IIT-JEE & NEET coaching of two years duration and will mainly be through digital means. 30 of the enrollment is for IIT-JEE & 30 for NEET examination coaching. The list of Super 60 students includes students from BPL families (5 for IIT-JEE and 5 for NEET Coaching). The eligible students currently studying in Class XI within the state of Meghalaya were invited to apply online for the programme. 392 students applied online, out of which 60 students were selected based on their 10th Board examinations 2017 marks in Mathematics & Science. After verifying their Mark-sheets including proof of their BPL status, the merit list was drawn. As part of inauguration programme, the selected students received Tablets with pre-loaded course content for IIT-JEE / NEET including question bank and practice sets. The State Government and the coaching partner (Byju’s) will be constantly monitoring the progress of the students through an online portal, and will provide timely feedback. Earlier during the programme, NEET student, Lakyntiew Eurica Kurkalang and JEE student, Bregam Chejring N. Marak shared their experiences on being part of the Meghalaya Super 60. Officials present on this occasion included Shri Y. Tsering, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Shri D. P. Wahlang, Principal Secretary, IT&C Department, Shri M. R. Synrem, Secretary, IT&C Department, Shri Ebenezer Lyngwa, Principal Consultant & Head, State e-Governance Mission Team (SeMT), IT&C Deparment, Meghalaya, Shri Siddhesh Joglekar, Associate Vice-President, Byju’s, Bengaluru, and Shri Shubham Srivastava from Byju’s, Bengaluru.

Press Release No. 915/17

MEGHALAYA YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM HELD

A week long State Level “Meghalaya Youth Exchange Programme, 2017” organised by the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Meghalaya Shillong from 20th August to 26thAugust, 2017 was inaugurated today by Zenith M Sangma, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya. The theme for the program is “Youth for Peace, innovation and a progressive nation”. Parliamentary Secretary Incharge and Government Chief Whip, W D Sangma, Chief Executive Member, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Boston Marak, MDC Dengnakpara, Sadhiarani M Sangma, Chief Executive Officer, Tura Municipal Board, S B Marak, Director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Matsiewdor W Nongbri, Joint Director, Sports and Youth Affairs, Jasper P Marak, other dignitaries, officials of the department of Sports and Youth Affairs and participating students attended the inaugural function. Speaking on the occasion, Zenith Sangma highlighted briefly on the importance and background of the youth exchange program which is being held for four consecutive years since 2013. He said that the youth from across the state are fortunate to participate and interact with each other in these kinds of programs organised by the department of Sports and Youth Affairs. “Youth have important role to contribute in the process of building the nation and therefore, these programs are necessary to encourage them to nurture their talents so that they become dynamic citizens in future”, he added. Stressing on the importance of time he said that by using it judiciously one can achieve their desired goal in life. Further, he urged upon the youth to take advantage of the oppportunity provided by the government and become productive citizens in future. While addressing the gathering W D Sangma said that this types of programs would help to showcase and upscale the individual talents of the youth of our state. He advised them to motivate themselves, face challenges in life and work with dedication and persistance to achieve their desired goal. Boston Marak expressed his gratitude to the organisers for organising this program and hopes that this platform will promote leadership skills and also help to build friendship among different ethnic groups of the state of Meghalaya.

In her introductory speech, M W Nongbri informed that about 200 youth will be selected from the state level program according to their performance and would be sent to participate in the National level and again the best 20 youth would be selected from these to participate in International level. She mentioned that about 1000 youths have been able to participate in different programs organised at various places and few of them have been able to succeed in their career. She urged them to make use of opportunity provided to nurture their talent and make a difference in the society. Keeping in mind the theme of the program, the youths would be trained on various life skills & career oriented programs, interactive sessions and also participate in various competitions.

Press Release No. 916/17

FOCUS OF HORTICULTURE MISSION ON INDIGENOUS PLANTS

Continuing with the social mobilization and distribution of saplings under Horticulture Mission, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said that the State government’s focus in this mission was to promote plantation of high-value plants that are indigenous to the region and ensure that farmers generate a lot of income that would benefit generations to come. The Chief Minister was addressing a huge gathering at Songsak Agitokgre in East Garo Hills before distributing Agar, Black Pepper and Drumstick saplings to the beneficiaries in the presence of Minister for School Education & Literacy, Deborah C. Marak, Parliamentary Secretaries Cherak W. Momin and Sengnam Marak, local leaders, district officials and farmers among others on Monday. The Chief Minister said it was necessary to have social mobilization so that people can be motivated to take ownership of the programme. He urged all village heads to submit list of names of those who are keen to take up these plantations in their respected villages assuring that the saplings would reach their respective villages once they submit the list. Stressing on scientific utilization of resources available in the State, Dr. Sangma said that the government was coming up with a programme called Comprehensive Agriculture Planning under the Mission, through which satellite mapping of agricultural lands of the farmers would be undertaken so that they can identify cultivable land for specific crops. Reiterating the importance of Agar and its multiple uses, the Chief Minister informed the gathering that the State has already been getting many applicants for starting a factory for extraction of Agar oil, which is famed for its medicinal properties. On Agar being an endangered species, he dwelt at length on how the State government has framed a policy for plantation and harvesting of Agar wood and at the same time explained the method of plantation and inoculation of Agar plants for enhancing their value. The Chief Minister also gave away cheques to selected villages for starting community nurseries under Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme and urged upon the beneficiaries to focus on indigenous and traditional plants that are of high-value. Addl.Deputy Commissioner S.K. Marak and Distrct Horticulture Officer, Williamnagar, B.G. Momin were among others who also spoke on the occasion.