Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 432/16

CM ATTENDS MOTHER TERESA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The third day of Mother Teresa International Film Festival (MTIFF) here at U Soso Tham Auditorium Shillong was opened by Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Dr Mukul M Sangma. The MTIFF is organized by Archdiocese of Shillong, Diocese of Jowai and Missionaries of Charity in collaboration with Department of Information & Public Relations and Department of Urban Affairs, Government of Meghalaya. The festival follows the Canonization of Mother Teresa on 4th September 2016 at Vatican City and celebrates the sainthood of Mother Teresa highlighting the life and works of Mother Teresa through films and documentaries from all over the world. The festival also aims to motivate and inspire many into words, deeds and thoughts of mercy, love and compassion towards the less privileged. Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest of the day Dr Mukul M Sangma expressed pride and happiness on behalf of the government to be associated with the festival as Shillong is the first city to host the MTIFF post the canonization of Mother Teresa. He said that the film festival serves as an important mechanism to reach out to the people, to inspire and to motivate. He also added that as individuals in different capacities the ability to serve comes out of the ability to love, the quality that Mother Teresa has immensely demonstrated. The Chief Minister also proposed to have the MTIFF every year in different places across the state and said that the government has different departments for the welfare of the less privileged and differently abled and the Missionaries of Charity homes can be effectively utilized by these departments to give internship to people to acclimatize them before being inducted into government service so that they can serve with better understanding and love. Among others who spoke at the Opening Session were Fr Jacob, Missionaries of Charity (MC) who gave the Welcome Address, Sr Grace Mary, Superior, MC, Fr Joseph, Director, Don Bosco Museum, Mawlai, Mr Gautam Lewis fondly referred to as Mother’s son, a polio inflicted who was sheltered by Mother Teresa, who eventually went on to become a pilot and Fr Stephen Francis, Festival Director. The short documentary, ‘Love Till It Hurts’ by Pauline Productions opened the festival for the day.

Press Release No. 434/16

FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR NAJING MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL AT DANAKGRE

The Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs etc. Shri. Zenith M. Sangma laid the foundation stone for construction of Najing Memorial Secondary School, Danakgre, on the outskirt of Tura on 7th September, 2016 in the presence of Shri W. D. Sangma, Parliamentary Secretary for Education & Home, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills District, Shri Pravin Bakshi, Shri Polendro A. Sangma, President of SMC, Najing Memorial Secondary School and other elders of the locality. The School to be constructed as part of the Asian Development Bank (ADBP) Project for infrastructural interventions, skill development and capacity building is one of the four schools after Garobadha, Zekabari and Rangsakona under ADBP scheme, besides being all of it, falling within the same Rangsakona Assembly Constituency.

Press Release No. 435/16

WORLD LITERACY DAY OBSERVED AT KHLIEHRIAT

The District Mission Coordinator (SSA) (SEMAM) East Jaintia Hills District observed the World Literacy Day 2016 at a function held at Khliehriat West Community Hall, Khliehriat today on the theme “Literacy is the bridge from misery to hope”. Shri W.R. Lyngdoh, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District graced the function as the Chief Guest and Shri K.L.Nongbri ADC, Khliehriat as the Guest of Honour. The programme was also attended by Shri S. Pdang, APP of Khliehriat District Court and President Khliehriat Bar Association and Dr. P. Nongtdu, Principal Jaintia Eastern College, Khliehriat, students and District Officials. During the programme, the Chief Guest distributed books to 19 dropout children of Khliehriat and Saipung Block who are brought back to the mainstream. Songs, dances and cultural programmes were the other highlights of the day.

Press Release No. 436/16

WORLD LITERACY DAY OBSERVED AT TURA

Along with the rest of the world the World Literacy Day 2016 was observed today at SMELC Conference Hall, Dakopgre, Tura with the theme Literacy is a Bridge from Misery to Hope. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya incharge Education, etc Winnerson D Sangma graced the occasion as Chief Guest in the presence of Deputy Commissioner West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi, Additional Deputy Commissioner & District Mission Coordinator, Sabrella B Marak, Principal Tura Government College, Terence Marak, other dignitaries, officials of education department, partner NGOs, teachers and students. While addressing the gathering, Shri W D Sangma said that education is a platform for moulding the future of every individual who contributes to the growth and development of the society in their different capacities but at their one point of time they too served the society as teachers. Expressing his satisfaction towards the performance of residential schools in the districts he opined that students studying in residential schools perform better due to disciplined and controlled environment provided by the institution and hopes that the initiatives taken by the government in opening up of more residential schools in the region would facilitate the overall development of the students. Further, he advised the concerned department to organize this kind of programmes in the rural areas so as to sensitize the parents the importance of education required for their children.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pravin Bakshi congratulated the teachers and the management for successful achievement of the KGBV schools of the district and is pleased to see the confidence and transformation of the students. He further urged the students to study as well as to take up sports at the same time in order to enhance the co-curricular activities in their future career. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), West Garo Hills District has conducted Model enrolment drive for about 802 Out of School Children for the year 2015-16 in all the blocks of the district for which the Educational package for few selected students were distributed by the Chief Guest on the occasion. Moreover, the Secretary along with the Head Teacher of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) schools of West and South West Garo Hills Districts comprising of Jengjal, Dalu, Dadenggre, Tikrikkila, Selsella, Betasing and Zikzak Blocks received Certificates from the Chief Guest for their achievement in the project assigned by British Council.

It may be mentioned that SSA, Meghalaya collaborated and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Council on 26th September, 2014 for implementation of innovative capacity building programme known as Education Quality Improvement Pathway for Schools (EQUIPS), specially designed for capacity building of teachers of the seven KGBVs in Garo Hills region. As per the EQUIPS schedule the seven KGBVs has been trained on the broader theme areas, namely School Enterprise, Global Citizenship and 100 Words for Communication in October, 2014 followed by review meeting later in March, 2015 and on the occasion of World Literacy Day 2016, the Foundation Certificate is being distributed to KGBVs for their successful achievement of the said project. During the function, head teacher of different KGBV schools made a short presentation on EQUIPS project which was assigned by British Council, besides the display of Garo traditional dress, ornaments and bags made from water hyacinth by the students.