State Govt to launch 5 major missions
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Meghalaya government will lay emphasis on the success of five important missions and its flagship program on the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Program which will impart knowledge and skill to fight poverty and backwardness raising the stakes to make Meghalaya a model state in the country.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, laid out the road map for the progress of the state in its endeavour to overcome underdevelopment during the inauguration of the multi-storeyed and one of a kind Social Mobilization Experimentation & Learning Centre (SMELC) building at Dakopgre, Tura on Monday morning.
The SMELC is modeled with a mission for community development and empowerment through participation and training in full convergence with the State government departments. The centre is constructed under RSVP and the Backward Regions Grant Fund Scheme by DRDA, Tura and implemented by the West Garo Hills Community Resource Management Society under NERCORMP. It is managed by a board of management with the Deputy Commissioner as the Chairman and Project Manager, WGHCRMS as Chief Executive Officer who are responsible for the day to day management of the complex.
It was also the brainchild of former Deputy Commissioner P Sampath Kumar who vigorously pushed through for the start of the complex for the benefit of the villagers who could be provided with a state of the art training centre in improving the livelihood of the rural areas.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the workshop on Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Programme on the sidelines of the SMELC building inauguration.
Dr Sangma reiterated his government’s Endeavour to ensure every government infrastructure is optimally utilized.
“Skill and knowledge is the only mantra/weapon that will enable us to fight the greatest challenge of backwardness and poverty and this new building is a testimony of our commitment to that fight,” said Dr Sangma.
He was optimistic that the centre would be imperative in disseminating the required skill and knowledge and hoped that optimum utilization of the building takes place.
Giving details of his government’s flagship program on Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Programme, Dr Sangma said that the concept has been designed in such a way that the potentials available at different levels would be harnessed and active participation of the people would be ensured. Sensing the need to have proper plans for the future he opined that ‘Plan Today & Grow Hope for the Future’ would be an apt motto of the programme.
He informed that five major missions would be launched, namely on Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Livestock and Tourism and these would over a period of time diversity to other areas.
“Skill and knowledge would not be centered only on a select few but distributed equally on all stakeholders. We would like to ensure complete progress,” said the Chief Minister.
He was most concerned over the mass migration of the youth from rural areas to towns and cities far away in the search for jobs. “Unless we create jobs for our youth it will be difficult to reverse the trend and see the return of our children,” said Dr Sangma while adding that his government is giving optimum investment to the farming sector to halt the mass exodus.
Among others who spoke on the occasion were Sanjay Goyal, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills & Chairman, West Garo Hills Community Resource Management Society (WGHCRMS), Mr. R.M. Mishra IAS, Commissioner and Secretary Planning department, Mr. U.K. Sangma, IAS Secretary, NEC, Shillong & Chairman, NERCORMP, Mr W.M.S.Pariat, Chief Secretary and Saleng A Sangma, Minister for C&RD who was the Guest of Honor of the function.
Tura Treasury building inaugurated: The Chief Minister also inaugurated the new office building of Tura Treasury Office at Tura. The building came into being at a cost of Rs. 1.76 crore, and has been transformed into a fully computerized sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sangma said that efforts are being made by the Government to ensure that the working atmosphere of Government offices is such that it will enable the officials to be more efficient and to build up their capacity to serve the people efficiently. Towards this end, Dr Sangma said that the Government is trying to improve the infrastructure in government offices.
Dr Sangma also urges the government officials to have a sense of commitment to their job and that they should also equip themselves with the ability to use latest technologies in order to enhance the delivery system. “We should identify the deficiencies in our working system and structure our approach accordingly”, added the Chief Minister while ensuring that sustained capacity building opportunities to government officials will be provided.