Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 356/12

LEGAL LITERACY CLASSES HELD

Shillong 14, September 2012: The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District in collaboration with Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority Shillong organized Legal Literacy classes for students at Auxilium Girl’s Higher Secondary School, Nongthymmai, Shillong on 14th September, 2012

The objective of the programmed is to create awareness among the students community on Fundamental Duties and Legal Services Authority Act 1987. The resource person for the day included Mrs. P. K. Sangma (EAC), Mrs. L. Khiangte (Advocate) and Mr. Rajiv Nath (Advocate).

Press Release No. 357/12

WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Shillong, September 14, 2012: The Secretary, District Selection Committee, East Khasi Hills has informed that the written test examination for the post of Soil Conservation Demonstrator Jr-I will be held on September 22, 2012. Qualified candidates who have not received the call letter can contact O/o The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, Room No. 201.

Press Release No. 358/12

SYSTEMATIC VOTERS EDUCATION LAUNCHED

Shillong, September 14, 2012: The Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District, Mr. S Kharlyngdoh launched the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation at TRYSEM Hall in the presence of all Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Supervisors. The aim of the programme is to educate the people who are above 18 years of age to get them registered in the electoral roll.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kharlyngdoh said that the main objective of the process is to make the entire electoral exercise a success and urged the officers present to carry out the duty of educating the voters to take part in the electoral process.

Press Release No. 359/12

HOLIDAY DECLARED

Shillong, September 14, 2012: All State Government offices and all Revenue and Magisterial Courts and educational institutions in East Khasi Hills District shall remain closed on September 18, 2012, on account of Unitarian Anniversary Day. This was informed by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, General Administration (A) Department.

Press Release No. 360/12

CM INAUGURATES MEGHABYTES NICT 2012 AT SHILLONG

Shillong 14th September 2012 – Inaugurating the Meghabytes NICT 2012 which aims at empowering Meghalaya with technology, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma said that new technology and ideas can change our way of life and that the human mind is capable of great things.

The end result of long Research and Development (R&D) has definitely made a difference in our way of life, opined Dr. Sangma during the inaugural function of the event. Dr. Sangma, while speaking as the Chief Guest of the event said that it is important for people to be receptive to new technology and new ideas so that it is ensured that the productivity of everybody’s endeavour is further multiplied.

In the context of governance, there is no limitation as to where the technology can be blended. Therefore it is very important that there is a stronger engagement between government and the service and technology providers said Dr. Sangma. “While we do so, it is very important for all the partners in the field of developing technology and providers of the same to keep in mind that this is affordable for the end users,” Dr. Sangma said. “Today the main constraint that the Government faces as far as adoption of new technology and its use is concerned is basically the high cost. There have been instances where new technology being developed and used outside the country, when they are brought into the country, the cost goes up at times by as much as 100 to 200 percent. This is something that we need to address,” Dr. Sangma said. With a population of around 1.2 billion, it is very important to structure pricing and make it so that the products are affordable. “Today we are receptive towards adoption of all the technology available. In fact, Meghalaya is the only state in the country which has all the infrastructure required for e – governance. When an EOI was floated in the year 2004, Meghalaya was the first state in the country to come up with an EOI inviting partners for a state - wide area network. Today, we are proud to say that all infrastructure – be it state - wide area network, data centre, common service centres, everything is in place. The only bottleneck that Meghalaya faces is the frequent failure of connectivity,” Dr. Sangma informed the gathering while adding that there is a need for partners to address this issue.

Since this infrastructure is already in place, Dr. Sangma said that all this can be utilized and optimized. “Today we would like to ensure the best of services in the social sector through the adoption of technology.” “How easy will it be if a doctor knows, as a patient steps into his clinic in the government hospital, the identity of the patient, get his past medical history and all the treatment given in the past by other doctors?” Dr. Sangma questioned. How easy will it be for the Government to know how many medicines have been dispensed today in any of the hospitals. This can be monitored on a real – time basis which not only increases efficiency but also addresses all other issues of deficiencies and inclination for mismanagement, Dr. Sangma asked. If Mc Donalds is running restaurants all over the world and they know how much they have sold at the end of the day, it is possible for everyone else to do the same. Today, there are a lot of constraints and as far as the North East is concerned, we face a bigger challenge. The Government of India still needs to do a lot of things but at the same time, in spite of all these deficiencies and constraints it is important to ensure that each and every line department of the government starts looking towards adopting technology. In adopting new technology, it is also imperative that we find out what is the latest, the best and the cheapest.

“I had the privilege to see one of the best cases of management of services in the power sector by the adoption of technology in Norway. Norway has been able to do so through the adoption of new technology and if they can do it through the adoption of technology, is it not possible for India and its different states to do the same?” questioned Dr. Sangma. “We adopt new technology but sometimes we are not receptive to the need to explore if there is already something available that is better and integrate this accordingly. As industries and business houses try to associate with the government and convince it to adopt new technology, I think that it is important for all of you to do your homework to see as to whether the technology that you are going to provide the Government is the latest and most efficient or whether something better has already come up,” Dr. Sangma advised.

Dr. Sangma also said that there is a need to sensitize people on the use of new technology Dr. Sangma said as everything needs to move simultaneously. “We cannot just invest without sensitizing the stakeholders and ensuring that some benefit is derived out of whatever expenditure is incurred in the adoption of new technology,” said Dr. Sangma. He also informed the business houses and service providers that Meghalaya has innumerable areas open for partnership. The Chief Minister said that Meghalaya is highly conducive to investment and called upon the different business houses and service providers to take advantage of Meghalaya’s congenial atmosphere for investment. Dr. Sangma added to this by saying that this opportunity is also supplemented by an attractive environment because of technology itself.

Dr. Sangma also informed that an EOI has been floated for the development of an IT park and that the Government has already allocated 80 acres of land to the IT Department for this purpose. He further said that the time has come for people to look at the North East for investment. In this regard, he said that as of now, business houses are being made to pay through their nose because of high real estate cost in and around the metros. Apart from this, the cost of living for the workforce is very high which has resulted in most business houses operating at about 50 percent of their full capacity. ‘A similar thing is happening in the IT sector. You are paying huge sums for rent in the metros, setting up operations in Shillong will mean about 30 percent of that expenditure.” Reminding those in attendance that a large number of northeastern people are working in the IT sector in the metros, Dr. Sangma said that an added benefit is manpower which is already working at the metros but would be happier working back here at home. Terming these as circumstantial benefits, Dr. Sangma urged the business houses to analyze these and to inform the government as to what support they will need in setting up shop in Meghalaya.

Press Release No. 361/12

LOK ADALAT TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22

Shillong, 14th September, 2012: The office of the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai in collaboration with the Sate Legal Service Authority, Shillong will organise Lok Adalat (People Court) at Tome Memorial Secondary School,Mooralong Jowai on 22nd September, 2012 from 10.00 Am onwards. The lists of cases referred to Lok Adalat are listed in the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Judicial Branch) Jowai.

List of Litigants /parties whose cases have been listed for trial at the Lok Adalat are advised to avail this opportunity in order to settle their case with the help of conciliators duly appointed for the purposes.