Rynjah-Nongrah bridge to be double-lane
SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek on Friday laid the foundation stone for upgradation of the bridge connecting Rynjah and Nongrah and other nearby areas. The foundation was laid in the presence of Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope, Sohryngkham MLA David Nongrum and others.The 24-m single-lane bridge will be converted into double lane. The Rs 5-crore upgradation project has been sanctioned under the Central Road Fund. The bridge was constructed in the 1970s and upgradation will help in easing congestion in the area. The bridge is supposed to be upgraded in 18 months. Nongrum said he has given some proposals to the state government for upgradation of few other bridges and roads in Sohryngkham constituency.
Local artistes enthrall audience in Puri & Pune
SHILLONG: A 15-member team of artistes from the Tyngkai Cultural & Welfare Organisation, Umpling, participated in the Octave Festival 2019 held in Puri, Odisha from January 26 to February 1. The group also performed Khasi folk songs and dances at an event in Pune organised by Symbiosis Ishanya & Cultural Education Centre (SISEC), the North East Community Organisation, Pune and the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur which was held from February 26 to March 5. The group was led by Genevieve Khongjee.
POSHAN Abhiyaan celebration begins in city today
SHILLONG: The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development will celebrate the first anniversary of POSHAN Abhiyaan on Friday by organising POSHAN Pakhwada across the country from March 8 to March 22 as part of Jan Andolan. The first day of the programme will coincide with International Women’s Day. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is India’s flagship programme to improve the nutritional outcome for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Launched in March 2018, the programme, through use of technology and real time monitoring, strives to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight in children. All district offices of social welfare departments will be a part of the celebrations. IEC activities through social media will be carried out during POSHAN Pakhwada. A social media campaign under POSHAN Pakhwada will also be carried out through media partners and a team of Swasth Bharat Preraks for maximum reach.
Workshop on piggery and poultry value chain
SHILLONG: A two-day workshop on piggery and poultry value chain was inaugurated on Thursday by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong at the State Convention Centre in the city. The workshop was organised jointly by the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary and cooperation departments along with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA). During the inaugural programme, the chief guest, along with other dignitaries, released the Draft Meghalaya Piggery Mission Document. Speaking at the inaugural programme, Tynsong urged the farmers to adopt the modern method in both rearing and breeding of pigs and poultry, as livestock rearing has been an integral part of the rural life in the state, and has also played a pivotal role in supplementing the income of rural population. Earlier, Agriculture Production Commissioner, KN Kumar, in his keynote address, informed that pigs were being reared in a non-scientific manner leading to a shortfall in meeting the consumption demands of the region. He informed that the objective of the workshop is to intensify piggery in the region in a scientific manner and promote piggery and poultry value chain in the North East region.
Spring fest in Mawkyrwat to boost local entrepreneurs
MAWKYRWAT: The Spring Festival cum 5th District Industrial Exhibition was held in Mawkyrwat on Thursday with an aim to provide a platform to local entrepreneurs and help them market their products by developing good relations with potential buyers. The event was organised by the office of the District Commerce and Industries Centre (DCIC) in collaboration with Friends of the Umngi River, a local organisation. South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo attended the event as the chief guest in the presence of general manager of DCIC Mawkyrwat J Gashnga, SDO PHE Mawkyrwat W Syiemlieh and secretary of the Friends of the Umngi River Robert Basan. Meanwhile, various items such as handicrafts, honey, handlooms, fruit squash, jams, tea, soap, jute bags, chocolate and others exhibited at the event. There was also a demonstration on the making of handicrafts and food items including activities like games, archery and a cultural show.
Lafarge retains Guru Dronacharya award
SHILLONG: Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. (LUMPL), on February 22, retained the Guru Dronacharya award for the fifth consecutive year during the XVI North East Metalliferous Mines Safety Week’s (NEMMSW) held in Guwahati. The award was given in recognition of the consistent outstanding achievement of LUMPL in the field of health and safety. Deputy directorate general of mines safety, Eastern Zone, PK Palit graced the event as the chief guest and lauded LUMPL for being a role model in the North East. A total of 14 mines from the Northeastern region participated in the competition including Star Cement, Dalmia Bharat Cement, Topcem Cement, Best Cement, Green Valley Cement and Meghalaya Cherra Cement Ltd.
Bases laid for EMRS at Tikrikilla, Mahadeo
TURA: Benedick R Marak, co-chairman of the State Planning Board on Wednesday laid the Foundation stone for the Eklayva Model Residential School (EMRS) at Salbaripara under Tikrikilla C& RD Block. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, SDO, Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division and Block Development Officer, Tikrikilla C&RD Block, Leena Daring, Additional Director, School Education and Literacy and DSEO, Tura P Ryngksai. Speaking on the occasion, Benedick Marak said that the school will address the education scenario of the region since the schools present are practically very far and students have to travel long distance in order to attend their classes every day. While expressing his gratitude to the Nokma of the area, he also urged the people of the area to work together in order to build a secure future for their children. He also informed that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned Rs 43.64 Crores to improve the education of tribal people in the region and that people should take opportunity of the facilities provided to them. The foundation stone for the same was also laid at Mahadeo in South Garo Hills on the same day by Siju-Rongara MLA Rakkam A Sangma. Sangma also informed that Rs 24 crore has been sanctioned to construct the residential school and said that as per the instructions given by the central government the academic sessions will begin by April 2020-21. He also thanked the Chambugong Mahari of Mahadeo for donating sufficient amount of land to construct the school.
Intl Women’s Day celebrations kick off in Garo Hill
TURA: The 3rd All Garo Hills International Women’s Day celebration cum exhibition and sale of organic products by the SHGs of the region kicked off on Thursday at the PA Sangma Stadium in Dakopgre, Tura. Chief Whip, Government of Meghalaya, Marcuise Marak graced the event as the chief guest in the presence of co-chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board Benedick Marak and Jowai MLA Weiladmiki Shylla. The programme is being organized by Bakdil, Tura in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSCW), Chief Minister’s Special Rural Development Fund, Department of Social Welfare, NABARD, MSRLS and Meghalaya Rural Bank.
MSCW for more women in politics
SHILLONG: Theilin Phanbuh, chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) on Thursday, appealed for women to take up prominent roles especially in governance. Speaking to The Shillong Times on the eve of International Women’s Day, Phanbuh lamented that very few women are participating in politics and governance. According to Phanbuh, only a woman can understand another woman’s problems. She also added that women should come forward and take up important roles in the society. “Trained women can, in turn, become resource persons. Training is done from time to time, even capacity building training to encourage women,” Phanbuh said. “I have seen women become courageous to speak out after attending capacity building programmes,” she added. When asked on the pending rape and murder cases, she said that the commission has been following up such cases with the police department.
CRPF official arrives in city
SHILLONG: Arun Kumar Sharma, Additional DG of CRPF, Northeastern zone, arrived on his maiden visit to the state on Thursday. He was given a warm welcome by Prakash D IGP of CRPF, NE sector, and other senior officers. Sharma inspected the NE sector headquarters and interacted with the officers. He gave necessary instructions to augment operational efficiency of the force and also laid emphasis on various welfare schemes being undertaken by the department. Sharma also congratulated the officers and the men of the NE sector for their praiseworthy performance and encouraged them to prepare themselves for a peaceful and incident-free Lok Sabha elections.