SHILLONG, Sep 11: It was a momentous Teachers’ Day for Laitbah Union Higher Secondary School at Lawbah when the newly-constructed school building was inaugurated amidst great fanfare in the presence of students, teachers and parents. Laitbah Union is now a higher secondary school with 600 students beginning from the nursery class.
Principal of the school H Riwan had tears of joy on the occasion. Addressing the parents and students he said, “This school was started by my father (Late) C Chyne in 1985 in the Assam-type building covered with CGI sheets because there was a great need for a school here. This whole area is known for its heavy rainfall and storms. Every time it rains, the teachers have to stop taking classes because of the noise from the roof. When there is a storm, I am in trepidation about the roofs being blown off and students not having a place to study. We approached the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Committee and they granted us Rs 1.5 crore in 2020. Construction of the school building started in October 2020 and was completed in July 2022,” said a visibly gratified Riwan.
The SPV has also provided free uniforms to the students of the school. Little kids excited at wearing their new uniforms beamed with pride even as they enthusiastically performed for the guests on the occasion. On seeing their peers in school uniforms, students who had dropped out due to various reasons, now want to be admitted back to the school, Riwan said. He also informed that classes are being held in the new school building since September 8. The double-storeyed school building has facilities for future construction should the need arise. “Having a school within the village is of great help to the families who otherwise have to send their kids all the way to Mawsynram or to Shillong,” Riwan said.
The SPV oversees how funds from the compensatory payment of Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt Ltd is being used through a subsidiary the – Special Purpose Vehicle Society (SPV-S) as directed by the Supreme Court in its 2010 order. This after the people of Nongtrai approached the apex court (Contd on P-4)
Lafarge’s CSR activities add value…
(Contd from P-1) and alleged that Lafarge was mining on forest area.
The apex court in its ruling astutely observed: “In the present case, we are satisfied that limestone mining has been going on for centuries in the area and that it is an activity which is intertwined with the culture and the unique land holding. It is acknowledged that the operations will contribute to the growth of the local economy in remote areas.”
Lafarge mines 20 lakh tonnes of cement per annum from the mines at Nongtrai, East Khasi Hills. The company deposits Rs 90 per tonne of the limestone mined. This gives the maximum annual fund flow of Rs 18 crore to the SPV. This amount is utilised by the SPV-S in collaboration with the local Dorbars to fund welfare projects mandated upon it including the development activities that revolve around the sectors of health, education, agriculture, irrigation and general economy in the area around the mining area of 50 km solely for the local community and welfare of tribals.
Over and above, Lafarge also undertakes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in accordance with the provisions of Section 135 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 and its related Rules.
The apex court ruling specified that the activities of the SPV should be located within a radius of 50 km from the mining area which spreads over an area of 116 hectares. They comprise the areas of Nongtrai, Shella, Lawbah, Mawdon up to Mawlangbna and adjoining villages.
The USD 255-million Lafarge Surma Cement Project at Chhatak in Bangladesh is wholly dependent on limestone extracted from Nongtrai. The limestone is transported by a 17-km long conveyor belt to Chhatak.
As of 2014, Lafarge had deposited a sum of about Rs 99.51 crore to the society which is the apex implementing and coordinating organization for the integrated development of the areas affected by mining. Activities are wide ranging and include socio-economic, environmental, skill-based and cultural development, infrastructure projects and financial assistance for education, youth development & sports.
Much has been done by the SPV-S to empower women in pig-rearing complete with training and providing them with sheds and piglets on a shared basis. The women self-help groups have their own contribution by way managing the recurring expenses. Livelihood activities include beekeeping, growing citrus fruits including the Khasi Mandarin. Recently, the tea garden run by a self-help group at Shella has also started producing tea.
The SPV-S has funded roads, footpaths, water supply facilities and equipment comprising X-ray machines, beds etc., to primary health centres and health sub-centres have been given. Ambulances have been given to the needy villages.
Over and above the amount paid to the SPV, Lafarge carries out its CSR activities which are visible in the state-of-the-art community halls and sports stadium.
The SPV-S has provided classrooms to Ramakrishna Mission Sohra and assisted the Presbyterian School, Mawlangbna with classrooms for the higher secondary sections complete with furniture.
