Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 650/06

FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT WEBSITE LAUNCHED

The official website of the Forest & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya, www.megforest.gov.in was launched by the Forest & Environment Minister, Mr. M N Mukhim at the National Informatics Centre Conference Hall, Shillong on August 30, 2006. Mr. Mukhim was accompanied by the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. S K Tiwari, Principal Secretary, Forest, Mr. J M Mauskar, Principal Secretary, IT Department, Mr. W M S Pariat, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. V K Nautiyal, Commissioner & Secretary, Forest, Mr. L Roy, Commissioner & Secretary, Information & Public Relations, Mr. A Som and other senior government officials.

In his speech as the chief guest, Mr. Mukhim lauded the effort of the Forest & Environment Department for their initiatives in launching the website for benefit of the people, research scholars, students etc. He also informed that only 1000 sq kms of the forest area in the State is under the direct control of the State Government, while the rest is under the management of the Autonomous District Council, the fact remains that the Forest Department is the nodal agency for formulating and implementing plans, programmes and schemes in the field of forestry in the entire State.

Lamenting over the fact, that the forest in the State is under the verge of extinction, Mr. Mukhim said that the young generation should change their attitude by preserving forest for their posterity. He further stated with the launching of the website the people from the rural areas can get information about the Department from Community Information Centre, adding that the website will render transparency in the functioning of the Department and result in better co-ordination with the people of the State.

Others who spoke on the occasion includes Chief Secretary, Mr. S K Tiwari, Principal Secretary, Forest, Mr. J M Mauskar, Principal Secretary, IT Department, Mr. W M S Pariat, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. V K Nautiyal who also delivered the welcome address and Mr. T Dkhar, SIO, Meghalaya proposed the vote of thanks.

Press Release No. 651/06

PRICE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

The Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Meghalaya, Shillong has informed that the following are the wholesale price (in quintals/bag/tin) and the retail price (in kg/litre) of essential commodities as on August 30, 2006.

The wholesale price of Rice is Rs. 1120/1140 (Common), Rs. 1160/1200 (Fine) and Rs. 1250/1700 (Packet Parimal) while the retail price per kg is Rs. 12.00 (Common), Rs. 12.00/Rs.12.50 (Fine) and Rs. 13.00/Rs. 18.00 (Packet Parimal). The wholesale price of Atta is Rs. 1060/1070 and Maida is Rs. 1210/1240 and the retail price per kg of Atta is Rs. 13.00/ and Maida is Rs. 15.00. While the wholesale price of Gramdal is Rs. 3100/Rs. 3200, the retail price per kg is Rs. 32.00/36.00 per kg. For Turdal, the wholesale price is Rs. 2820/3000 (Ahar), Rs. 2425/Rs. 3000 (Masur) and Rs. 3925/4500 (Moong), and the retail price per kg is Rs. 31.00/Rs. 34.00 (Arhar), Rs. 27.00/Rs. 32.00 (Masur) and Rs. 42.00/Rs. 52.00 (Moong). The wholesale price of Sugar is Rs. 2000/Rs. 2080 per quintal, the retail price is Rs. 22.00/Rs. 23.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Mustard Oil is Rs. 680/Rs. 690 per tin, the retail price is Rs. 57.00/Rs 72.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Vanaspati oil is Rs. 720/Rs. 840 per tin, the retail price is Rs. 54.00/Rs. 60.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Tea is Rs. 100/Rs. 150 (loose) and Rs. 130/Rs. 170 (packet), the retail price is Rs. 120.00/170.00 (loose) and Rs. 160.00/Rs. 196.00 (packed) per kg. The wholesale price of Potato is Rs. 500/Rs. 850 per bag, the retail price is Rs. 08.00/Rs. 12.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Onion is Rs. 700/Rs. 1000 per bag, the retail price is Rs. 08.00/Rs. 13.00 per kg. The wholesale price of Salt is Rs. 150/Rs. 190 (loose) and Rs. 160/Rs. 380 (packet), the retail price is Rs. 04.00/Rs. 05.00 per kg (loose) and Rs. 07.00/Rs. 09.00 (packet). The wholesale price of Gur is Rs. 1200/Rs. 1800, the retail price is Rs. 18.00/Rs 26.00 per kg and while the wholesale price of Milk (Toned milk) is Rs. 26.50 per litre, the retail price is Rs. 29.00 per litre.

Press Release No. 652/06

RURAL INDUSTRIES CONSULTANCY SERVICE CELL ESTABLISHED

With the aim of providing support services like preparation of project report, liaison work with various agency and necessary guidance to the first generation rural entrepreneur and rural artisan desirous of establishing units under REGP scheme of Khadi Village Industries, a Rural Industries Consultancy Service Cell has been established in the office of the Meghalaya Khadi and Village Industries Board, Lower Lachumiere, Shillong.

The Cell will be responsible for helping artisans in filling up the application forms for loan, brief them about the importance of registration and the formalities to be attended to avail special schemes like State incentive, transport subsidy and other developmental schemes for sustaining the activity. The Cell will also collect and maintain general information and procedural aspects required for starting new units such as licensing, taxation, bank and technical information. The information will be in respect of availability of machinery, raw materials, source of supply, and marketing of products and services.

Press Release No. 653/06

1ST MEETING OF STATE HEALTH MISSION UNDER NRHM HELD

“Recognising the importance of health in the process of economic and social development and improving the quality of life of our citizens, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has been launched to carry out necessary architectural correction in the basic health care delivery system in the country,” said the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr J D Rymbai while presiding over the 1st meeting of State Health Mission under NRHM held today at the Main Secretariat Conference Room. Health Minister, Mr E D Marak, C&RD Minister, Mrs Irin Lyngdoh, Urban Affairs Minister, Mr Paul Lyngdoh, Social Welfare Minister, Mr M N Mukhim and the Chief Secretary Mr S K Tiwari also attended the meeting.

Mr Rymbai stated that NRHM is a National effort at ensuring effective health care through a range of intervention at individual, household, community and most critically at the Health System Levels. Mr Rymbai said that in the State of Meghalaya, with 80 p.c. of the population residing in the rural areas, the objective of NRHM is very appropriate as it targets the rural population with the goal of achieving improved and quality health care facilities for the people especially in the rural areas. He expresses hope that with the active supports of other Government departments and also NGOs, the goals of the mission could be achieved with maximum benefits to the target groups.

It may be mentioned that the National Rural Health Mission was launched by the Government of India in April 2005 with the objective seeking to provide effective healthcare to rural population throughout the country with special focus on 18 States of the country which have weak public health indicators and weak infrastructure. The 18 States includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkand, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orrisa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

The Commissioner and Secretary Health Department, Mr P Naik made a presentation on the Mission Document of the NRHM with reference to the State of Meghalaya.