Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 348/10

COACHING FOR CIVIL SERVICES (PRELIMINARY) EXAMINATION 2011

Shillong, August 06, 2010: Applications for admission into the All India Services Pre-Examination Training Centre (AISPETC) are invited from candidates both male and female, belonging to Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and OBCs of the North Eastern States, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. Candidates whose parents are Safaiwallas, who are eligible to appear at the UPSC Civil Services (Qualifying) Examination 2011 are also eligible for admission into the Centre. The Coaching will be imparting Arts, Science and Commerce subjects through English medium. Candidates who have at least passed the Degree Examination with a minimum of 50 percent average marks in aggregate and who have not undergone training or have undergone training only once in any of the Pre-Examination Training Centres in the country and who intend to apply for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2010 will be eligible for consideration for enrolment into the Centre for Coaching for the said Competitive Examination.

The applicants should apply or should have applied to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for admission into the CS (Preliminary) Examination 2011 within the time frame fixed by the UPSC. No hostel facilities are available, but the out-station trainees admitted into the Coaching Course will be eligible for a stipend of Rs. 700/- only per month and local trainees a monthly stipend of Rs. 225/- per month subject to their fulfilling the prescribed terms and conditions of attendance, income limit etc, indicated in the guidelines displayed in the notice board of the Centre.

The last date for receipt of application in the prescribed form is within 9th August, 2010 for the Coaching in this Centre. Application form may be obtained from the office of the Director AISPETC on a written request accompanied with a self addressed envelope (23cm x 10cm) bearing Rs. 10/- postage stamp.

Press Release No. 349/10

GRATUITOUS RELIEF RELEASED

Shillong, August 6, 2010: The Deputy Commissioner Jaintia Hills District, Jowai has informed that an amount of Rs.20,000/- has been released being the calamity relief fund for payment as assistant to farmer Shri Ambrose Pajuh of Moolasngi village under Saipung Block, Jaintia Hills District for replacement of draught cattle lost due to lightning strike incident which occurred on 29th March, 2009.

Press Release No. 350/10

GOVERNOR VISITS MIR JUMLA TOMB IN WEST GARO HILLS

TURA, Aug 6, 2010: The Governor of Meghalaya Mr. Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, during his two-day tour to Garo Hills, visited the tomb of Mir Jumla, one of the Mughal generals, at Thakuranbari on the Assam-Meghalaya border in the westernmost part of West Garo Hills district on Thursday evening.

Interacting with the public members of the area, the Governor recalled his visit to Mankachar in Assam when he was serving as the Director-General of BSF, where he was told about the existence of the tomb and later during his visit to Bangladesh, he had also come across another memorial set up in the name of Mir Jumla with claims that the general’s body was buried there. This, the Governor said, made him particularly keen to visit the place and find out for himself whether his remains were actually buried there or not.

One of the members of Mir Jumla Mazar Sharif Committee, Ichaguri-Thakuranbari showed the Governor some documents to prove that the Mughal general was really buried in the hillock under the erstwhile kingdom of Kamarupa in Assam, which now falls under Ampati Sub-division of West Garo Hills.

In may be mentioned here that Mir Jumla, who was appointed the Governor of Bengal sometime around 1659 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, invaded Assam heading a vast army, but the difficult terrain and the malaria prone climate of the area took a heavy toll on the Mughal Army. This forced Mir Jumla to retreat during 1663 without having fully accomplished the subjugation of Assam. Before he could return to Bengal, the general himself was stricken with malaria and succumbed to the disease in the same year near Mankachar. His body was buried in the same place on a beautiful hillock and his tomb has been maintained over the centuries.

Mr. Mooshahary lauded the efforts of the local Mazar Sharif Committee for maintaining this historical place and in response to the memorandum submitted by them, he informed that the government had already initiated a project to develop the place as one of tourist destinations in the State.

Later, the Governor also visited the Kamakhya temple on another hillock apposite to Mir Jumla Mazar Sharif and offered prayers to the Goddess. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Governor Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sanjay Goyal and other government officials during his visit to the area.

Press Release No. 351/10

GOVERNOR LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR RAJ BHAWAN ANNEXE AT TURA

TURA, Aug 6, 2010: In a step toward fulfilling the long-cherished dream of the people of Garo Hills for having a Governor’s house at Tura, the Meghalaya Governor Mr. R S Mooshahary laid a foundation stone for construction of the Governor’s Guest House, here at Danakgre in the presence of the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister B M Lanong, other ministers, parliamentary secretaries, government officials and the public of the area on Friday morning.

The complex would be constructed over a 28.45-acre land at Danakgre would include Governor’s office, a secretariat, a conference hall, one VVIP and one VIP guest houses and is expected to be completed within three years’ time. Once completed, the guest house would serve as an official residence of the Governor whenever he comes on an official tour to Garo Hills.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr, Mooshahary stated that many states in India have Raj Bhawans in other places besides the state capital, so having a Raj Bhawan in Garo Hills was not an exception nor was it a sign of extravagance, because Garo Hills was one of the oldest districts in the North east and considering its distance from the state capital and backwardness of the region, it was rather a necessity for the people of the region. With the laying of the foundation stone for this project, we have taken one step closer to decentralization of institutions in the State, he added. He also called for completion of the proiect not only in a stipulated time but also with quality as well.

Endorsing the Chief Minister’s idea of holding the Assembly session in Tura and Jowai, the Governor even suggested that sometimes the entire cabinet should go down to the most backward districts in the State so that those areas could be developed at a faster rate. The Governor also called upon the people, particularly officers to do away with the culture of sluggish work and procrastination, adding that, once we change our work culture, Meghalaya can become forward moving and a vibrant state.

Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma, in his address to the gathering, recalled that the idea to have a Governor’s house in Garo Hills was conceived immediately after the inception of the State in order to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people of the region. However, when the project did not take off even after so many years, the land owners became impatient and approached him saying that they would sell off their land. So he got the proposal cleared and managed to acquire the land, he said, adding that the government was determined to complete the project soon so that the present Governor can be the first to occupy the Guest House.

Dr. Sangma said that the construction of Governor’s guest house in Tura was just the first step of the government in responding to the aspirations of various sections of the people in the state and also urged all the heads of departments to respond to the needs of the people according to the change in time and to ensure proper and efficient delivery. He also added that schemes and programmes conceived by different departments should be innovative and socially relevant.

He also informed about his plan to hold the Assembly session in Tura and Jowai, saying that the infrastructure is already there and that the GHADC and JHADC building could be used for the purpose. Sharing his government’s initiative with the gathering, the Chief Minister informed about the State’s livelihood programmes, with an emphasis on the farming sector. Also reiterating on the policy of “inclusive politics”, he said that his government was committed to ensure the involvement of the people while implementing every project. The meeting was presided over by GAD Minister Mr. Prestone Tynsong and among others who also spoke on the occasion were Minister Supply, Mr. Augustine D. Marak, local MLA Mr. P A Sangma, former minister Mrs. Miriam D Shira, Commissioner and Secretary GAD, Mr. P. W Ingty and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sanjay Goyal. (mipr)