Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 405/16

CM INAUGURATES NEW COLLEGE AT SOHIONG

Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma today inaugurated the newly established college - Meribon K.H. Memorial College, Sohiong at an impressive function which was attended by local MLA and Transport Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Mawhati Legislator Julius Dorphang, President of the Grand Council of Chiefs & Co-Chairman, State Planning Board, John F. Kharshiing, hosts of local leaders, members of the Governing Body, teachers and students of the college and feeder schools of the area. The nascent college is a project of the HDR Educational Trust as a fulfillment of a promise made by the local MLA to the people of his constituency three years ago, as the students of the area had to come to Shillong or other urban centres to pursue their higher studies due to absence of institution for higher education in the area. The college has been named after HDR Lyngdoh’s grandmother and the classes for the first batch of students started on July 21 this year. The college is being affiliated to Shillong College for the first semester as it is still awaiting the permission and affiliation from NEHU. In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister congratulated the people of Sohiong for the wonderful initiative that would generate a lot of hope for the young generation and expressed his joy that there are many such selfless, dedicated leaders amongst them who have started such institutions in the area, including Lyngkhoi that have produced a number of successful personalities in various positions. “Today is a day for celebration not only for the people of Sohiong, but the whole State must celebrate this milestone”, he added. He recalled how managing primary schools under the Autonomous District Councils used to be a difficult job and also recalled the historic decision made in the State Assembly to take over the administration of primary schools by the State Government. “Since then, the focus of the government, both in the centre and the states, has been on elementary education. There was a time when we were still talking about literacy campaign in just a gap of about two decades we are now talking about quality education”, he said. Stating that the situation of overcrowding in urban centres was due to the absence of institutions for higher education in rural areas, the Chief Minister stressed the need to have more and more colleges or higher secondary schools to cater to the feeder schools and spoke of the government’s concerted efforts to open more institutions of higher studies to ensure that students of rural areas go for higher studies. As such the government has come up with residential schools in rural areas where most of the parents do not have the wherewithal to give their children proper handholding support and as part of the government’s initiative to come up with institutions for higher education, Science & Commerce College is being set up – one at Mawphlang in East Khasi Hills and another at Mahendraganj in South West Garo Hills, he informed. He also spoke of the government’s initiatives to open Model Colleges and informed that a 15 acre land has been acquired one such Model College between Mairang and Kynshi in West Khasi Hills.

Stressing on the importance of education for proper utilization of the God given wonderful natural resources in the region through scientific, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that with more and more institutions of higher education a new era of progress through our children with their knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. He expressed his deep sense of appreciation for HDR Lyngdoh’s effort for making this new college a centre of excellence, who had said that there would be no compromise in appointing only the best teachers for the college and added that the same should be replicated by all other institutions while identifying teachers for appointment in their schools. The Chief Minister also announced that a massive tree plantation would be undertaken next year along the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura highway – which he called one of the most beautiful roads in the world – by involving all the schools and communities and appealed to the people of the area to participate and have community nurseries ready so they can have maximum number of plants during the plantation. He also suggested plantation of cherry blossoms on the hillocks around Sohiong area, adding that with Umbah-Tyrkhang water bodies being converted into a fish sanctuary, the area could become an exclusive destination for high-end tourists. Inauguration of Sohiong as C&RD Block within this year and sanction of Rs.30 crore for a shopping complex in Sohiong were some of the announcements made during the programme. HDR Lyngdoh, who is the founder-president of the college, in his address said that the objective of HDR educational trust was for transforming the lives of the people and building the intellect of the young generation of the area. He said he was pained to see many talented students whose careers come to end due to lack of institutions of higher studies and their economic hardship that prevented them going for higher education outside. He thanked the Chief Minister for his support in establishing the college and said that he would ensure that the college gets the best of teachers by having a panel of experts from NEHU for selection and appointment of teachers. Co-Chairman of State Planning Board John F. Kharshiing who was the guest of honour on the occasion, spoke of the vision of the college, whose motto is “Knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue” and informed about the computer course which had been started in the college campus six months ago. Governing Body member & Principal, Shillong College, Dr.K.D. Ramsiej, Lyngdoh of Sohiong Banshemphang Thabah, Governing Body member Dr. Marco Matri and Principal of the college Robert Lyngdoh Mawnai were among others who also spoke on the occasion. A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister seeking special grant supplement for the college from the government, among others