Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 1002/17

SHILLONG HACKATHON 2017

A grand finale of the Shillong Hackathon 2017 under the theme Clean and Liveable City was held today at Yojana Bhavan Auditorium, Shillong. Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Shri H. Marwein graced the inaugural programme as Chief Guest. The main objective of the event is to find a proper solution to make Shillong city clean. Under the Hackathon, ideas and corresponding solutions were being solicited from citizens to resolve the given problem statements as submitted by the various departments/agencies.

Addressing the inaugural function, Shri H. Marwein said that IT solutions can be an effective mechanism to address the various problems which has plagued the city in recent times. Highlighting how technology has changed over the years and how it has brought people together by new innovations, the Additional Chief Secretary also said that technological ideas and innovations can be solution to solve all the problems. He hoped that this Hackathon can harness the technological solutions that are being brought out by the participants which can subsequently be adopted by the Government in a more meaningful way.

Commissioner & Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, Shri F. R. Kharkongor in his brief address said that the main idea behind Hackathon is to give a platform for the young minds through technology know-how and innovations and to engage them in finding a permanent solution to the issues that Shillong city is facing. He also said that to get the best out of the event, “3 Es”- Engagement, Expression and Empowerment is being utilized , while also adding that it is the first G2C ( Government to Citizen) service where young minds are being engaged for the cause. He also said that out of the total entries received, 60 percent relates to the traffic management and the rest relates to urban management like garbage waste disposal, automatic tracking of garbage etc. He also hoped that this Hackathon will provide the much needed solutions to all these problems. Director, Urban Affairs Department, Shri E. Kharmalki, Senior TD & SIO, NIC Meghalaya and Chairman IEI, Shri Timothy Dkhar and Environmental Engineer, MSPCB, Shri W. Kharkrang also spoke at the inaugural function.

Press Release No. 1003/17

MEETING OF THE SDRC HELD AT NONGPOH

The State Development Reforms Commission (SDRC) today visited and held a review meeting with some departments including the District Commerce and Industries Centre, District Social Welfare Officer, District Child Protection Officer, Child Development Project Officer, Special Juvenile Police Unit, Divisional Forest Officer (Social Forestry), Executive Engineer PHE, Executive Engineer PWD (R), District Horticulture Officer, Superintendent of Fisheries, District Medical & Health Officer, District Rural Development Agency etc, in the DRDA conference hall, Nongpoh. The meetings had a deliberation on issues pertaining to district offices like budget provision of current financial year, functioning, programmes and activities of the different government offices in the district, state and central scheme being taken up by various departments, Act and rules implemented while executing of different scheme and project etc. The commission also took note of the problems face by the officers and assured that intimation to the government of the difficulties faces by them and proposed rectification if any. Suggestions were also made to the head of the district offices during the meeting while dealing with the scheme and projects for the success in the implementation and the overall benefit of the people of the district. Each department had a presentation of their schemes followed by interaction and suggestion by the commission. Members represented the commission included Mr. Sengman R. Marak, Co-chairman, Mr. Suraj Prakash Thapa, Co-chairman, Dr. Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait, Non-official member and Mr. F.M. Dopth, MCS, Member Secretary and others. Field visit and inspection of some of the scheme implemented by various district offices is part of the programme.