SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the Working Women’s Hostel in the presence of Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak at an impressive function organised by the Social Welfare department at Achik Baptist Mission Compound in Tura.
The hostel is being constructed with an estimate of Rs 8.90 crore which has been sanctioned under the Planning Commission’s Special Plan Assistance and will be equipped with modern amenities including a basketball court. The hostel will accommodate 75 working women and its construction will be undertaken by SEWS, an NGO under the guidance of the Social Welfare department.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma, Employment Generation and Resource Mobilization Chairperson Dikanchi D Shira, Parliamentary Secretary, PHE, N R Marak, GHADC Chairman P K Sangma and West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi were among those who attended the function. On the occasion, Dr Sangma commended the Socio Economic Welfare Society (SEWS) and its parent organization, the Garo Baptist Convention (GBC) for resourcefully maintaining the working women’s hostel.
“It is a privilege to partner with SEWS,” said Dr Sangma who termed the hostel an asset of the state, adding that there was an urgent need to provide well managed hostels for students, especially girls who come to district headquarters in order to study.
While maintaining that the government cannot profit from these hostels Dr Sangma said that there was a pressing need for partners to come forward and collaborate with the government in taking up new initiatives and urged the people to be forthcoming.
Informing that substantial amount of funds have been allocated to all line departments Dr Sangma cautioned heads of departments to use the funds judiciously and expeditiously even as he urged them to come out of the box, look for partners and innovate so as to make full use of the money at hand.
Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak informed that an initial amount of Rs 2 crore is being allotted by the Chief Minister for the construction of the hostel.
