TURA: A meeting between West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh and all Heads of Schools under Tura Urban was held on Friday in order to discuss matters relating to launching of Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign, Poshan Abhiyan and Swachhta Hi Sewa programmes being conducted simultaneously in the district. TMB Chief Executive Officer, S B Marak, District Urban Planner, Tura P N Sangma, officials of other line departments, principals and nodal teachers were also part of the meeting.
Emphasizing on the importance of the MR Vaccination campaign, The DC said that even though it is initiated by the government, it is people’s mission and likewise parents, teachers are equally responsible for the success of the nationwide immunisation programme in the district. Referring to apprehension among some parents, he reiterated that there should not be any doubts for immunisation, since the vaccine is WHO certified vaccine and other districts in Khasi Hills have already launch the immunisation programme successfully on 24th September in their respective districts adding that Meghalaya is the 25th State in India to launch this programme. He also sought full support and cooperation from everyone for implementing the immunisation programme successfully in the district which will be launched on October 1.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner also reminded that the month of September is observed as the Nutrition Month (Poshan Maah) and hence various programmes are being organised in all blocks and villages at Anganwadi Centres in which the mothers, adolescent girls and children are sensitize about the importance of nutrition in their daily life. Informing the gathering that about 70 per cent of women and children are anaemic, he insisted the principals and teachers to encourage children in their respective schools to eat healthy homemade food and to avoid and reduce junk and packed foods as much as possible.
While discussing about Swachhta Hi Sewa campaign in the district, the Deputy Commissioner informed that in order to keep the town clean and green, all citizens of district are to keep their surroundings free from garbage and to do waste segregation at their homes by maintaining two dustbins – one for organic waste like vegetables, etc and inorganic waste like plastic packets and bottles, etc. He also requested all Development Committees of the localities to continue their cleaning drives in their locality from time to time and also to organise special cleaning drives on October 2 to mark the Swachhta Hi Sewa Campaign in the district. All heads of schools were also directed to sensitize the children about the segregation of waste and to practise the principle of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in order to reduce waste production in the district.
TMB CEO, S B Marak also requested citizens to segregate plastic wrappers and bottles separately since plastic wrappers would be used for making road construction while bottles would be used for constructing community toilets, etc. She also informed that organic waste can be used for home composting which would benefit kitchen gardening in every household.