Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 618/18

BISKOT AND SOHIONG FESTIVAL HELD

Blending this season’s diversity, the Biskot and Sohiong Festival was today held at the All Saints Cathedral Hall on the theme “Important Food Sources for Nutrition and Livelihood”. The Festival was organised by the Directorate of Horticulture with the aim of promoting indigenous crops and also create awareness on the value addition that can be added to the crops. During the closing ceremony Meghalaya Minister of Agriculture, Shri. Banteidor Lyngdoh gave away prizes to the winners of the best stall to the office of the District Horticulture Office, Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills which bagged the first prize. The second prize went to the office of the District Horticulture Office, Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills and the third prize jointly went to the office of the District Horticulture Office, Jowai, West Jaintia Hills and office of the District Horticulture Office, Tura, West Garo Hills.

The winners of the best Entrepreneurs went to Kara Enterprise, Pohkseh, East Khasi Hills, Intergrated Vilage Co-operative Society Nongkasen, West Khasi Hills, Pyntngen Food Processing, Banium, East Khasi Hills, M/S Delicacies, Mawpram, Upling East Khasi Hills, Tyllui Kawie SHG, Laitskeh, West Khasi Hills, Peter & Son, Food Processing, Dirrang, South West Khasi Hillls, Mel’s Food Processing Unit, Mawlangwir, South West Khasi Hills and Smti Wannon Tang, Madam Kynsew, West Jainita Hills. The Special Award of Recognition by the Jury went to the IHM, Shillong. Earlier in the morning, the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Shri. Y Tsering inaugurated the Festival and inspected the stalls in the presence of the Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri. K N. Kumar, Agriculture Secretary, Smti. M N Nampui, officers of the Directorate of Horticulture, farmers and entrepreneurs. The main attractions of the day were workshops organised for farmers and the sale of a variety of Sohiong and Biskot inspired dishes, juices, jams, pickles etc.

Press Release No. 619/18

EAST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT WINS NATIONAL AWARD, 2018

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India presented East Khasi Hills District with the prestigious National Award, 2018 for Best Performance in Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (14th April to 5th May,2018) from among North Eastern Region & Himalayan States. This was informed by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is a Special Campaign initiated by the Government of India to ensure complete saturation of 7 (Seven) Flagship Programmes of various Ministries of Government to all beneficiaries up to the grass-root level. These included Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (LPG connections for eligible families), Ujala Scheme (Unnat Jyoti by affordable LEDs Bulbs for all), Saubhagya (Pradhan Mantri SahajBijli Har Ghar Yojana), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Mission Indradhanush (Immunization of Children under 2 years and all pregnant women), Swachh Bharat (Village Cleanliness Drive).

A Total of 283 (Two Hundred and Eighty Three) villages from the District were selected to participate in the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan while seven Government and Non – Government Departments/ Agencies collaborated with the District Administration to conduct this Programme. The Official Team appointed by the Government of India to observe, assess and report back on the activities being carried out under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan recommended East Khasi Hills District as a recipient for the National Award.

Press Release No. 620/18

MEASLES RUBELLA VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

To eliminate Measles and control of Rubella/Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) by 2020, Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) is being launched in the country targeting all children from 9 months to 15 years of age. In Meghalaya the MR campaign will be conducted from 24th September, 2018 onwards. All children of 9 months to less than 15 years must get vaccinated with this vaccine during the campaign. The vaccine will be given in all schools, community sessions, anganwadi centers and government health centers. The child should be given this vaccine, even if he/she has already been given the MR/MMR vaccine earlier. MR vaccine is very safe and does not cause any severe side effects. The children will be vaccinated by a trained health worker. To know more about the vaccine, contact your ANM, ASHA or Anganwadi worker or email at: mrcampaignindia@gmail.com

Press Release No. 622/18

ORDER UNDER SECTION 144 CRPC

The District Magistrate, West Khasi Hills District has issued an order under Section 144 CrPC prohibiting plying of loaded trucks and dumpers along the Riangsih to Nongjri road with immediate effect and until further orders in the interest of public safety and convenience and for prevention of further deterioration of the said road condition. The order has been issued in view of the complaint received that due to plying of dumper vehicles and trucks carrying stones, etc., along the Riangsih to Nongjri road has resulted in deterioration of the road causing extreme hardship to citizens residing in the Nongjri and neighbouring areas as they are unable to transport their produce to the market and causing inconvenience to the sick people travelling thereupon. If anybody violates this Order, he/she shall be prosecuted under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Anyone aggrieved by this Order may approach the Competent Authority.

Press Release No. 623/18

TURA MEDICAL COLLEGE CONSTRUCTION WORKS TO BEGIN AFTER REGULATORY CLEARANCES

The construction works for the Rs.243 crore Tura Medical College under the centrally sponsored scheme will begin immediately after all preparatory works are done and all clearances obtained. This was stated by Pravin Bakshi, Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, in the sidelines of meeting for Rubella-Measles Vaccination Campaign held on Thursday in the Conference hall of Tura Civil Hospital. Mr. Bakshi, who was the former DC of West Garo Hills District and presently Mission Director NHM, Meghalaya and Secretary of Health & Family Welfare Department visited Tura on 20th September, 2018 under the specific instructions of the Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, to assess the ground realities for the proposed Medical College that would be constructed in part in the premises of Tura Civil Hospital and in majority at Doldegre, located some 6 to 7 kms away from Tura Civil Hospital. He held a meeting with the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and other senior health & medical officers of the district and had threadbare discussions with them on various issues relating to the proposed Tura Medical College. He informed that the Tura Civil Hospital itself was proposed to be a reaching college and it is set to be upgraded from present 200 to 300 bedded in due course of time. Since a sizeable area of Tura Civil Hospital were encroached by illegal settlers, a mechanism of voluntary withdrawal of the encroachers in phase manners was discussed with the support of civil society, offering the alternative housing schemes for most eligible amongst them, he said. Various other legal issues and challengers in regard to the Medical College were discussed and it was decided to get all matters cleared the with the government and law department.

As far as the plot at Doldegre where most of the administrative blocks, hostels etc. of the Medical College will be located, it was informed by the district officers the land is free from all litigations and encumbrances and therefore, works could begin anytime. Mr. Bakshi exuded confidence that with the issuance of work order, all necessary clearances shall be obtained and mobilization of men, materials and machineries will take place and begin the works. He also advised the District administration to get a district level consultative and reconciliation committee involving senior citizens, Church leaders and social organizations be activated again to iron out all potential glitches and impediments and ensure smooth execution of the works. It was also advised the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) if any, resolve all issues relating to the pattas of the land where the Medical College will be spread out and departments of Forests issues environmental clearances and PHE and MePDCL works out modalities required for the supply of drinking water facilities and power supply respectively to the proposed Medical College at Doldegre.

Press Release No. 624/18

SPECIAL INTERACTIVE PROGRAMME-CUM-OFFICE EXPO 2018 HELD AT KHLIEHRIAT

A one day Special Interactive Programme (SIP) organised by the office of the District Public Relations Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat was held on 21st September, 2018 at Jaintia Eastern College, Khliehriat. Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Shri F. M. Dopth, graced the function as the Chief Guest while Shri. R. Nongkhlaw, Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations, Meghalaya, Shillong attended the function as the Guest of Honour. Speaking at the inaugural function, the Deputy Commissioner said that the objective of the Special Interactive Programme is to disseminate information on the programmes and policies of the Government implemented through various line Departments. He also said that the Office Expo 2018 was also launched during the programme involving all the Departments in the District. Others who spoke during the SIP include Shri R. Nongkhlaw, Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations and Shri. R. Susngi, DPRO, Khliehriat. During the interactive session, PHE Department, Health Department, DCIC, ICDS and DRDA highlighted the gathering of numerous schemes available with the respective Government Departments for implementation for the benefit of the general populace.