From Our Correspondent
Khliehriat, Sep 16: A one-day mega camp cum awareness programme on NALSA schemes and government welfare schemes under the theme ‘Bridging the Gap’ was held at Sein Jait Tuber Higher Secondary School, Tuberkmaishnong, East Jaintia Hills on Saturday.
The daylong event also featured services including free health check-up, MHIS enrolment, Adhaar Card, EPIC Card and E-Shram registration, information on schemes implemented by different departments including agriculture, horticulture, social welfare, fisheries, commerce & industries, animal husbandry & veterinary etc and exhibition cum sale of products made by Self Help Groups of the district were also showcased.
During the programme, aids and assistive devices were distributed by the dignitaries to specially-abled persons and work orders were also distributed to beneficiaries under PMAY-G Scheme.
Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya and Patron-in-Chief of Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) inaugurated the event in the presence of other dignitaries, officials, traditional heads, teachers, students and residents of the area.
Banerjee expressed his happiness seeing a carnival kind of atmosphere on account of the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of people from 15 identified villages of the area to the mega camp.
Speaking on India’s freedom movement, he stated that independence has brought about a lot of positive changes with sections of society which have been oppressed for centuries having got their opportunities and being represented in leadership positions in the judiciary, bureaucracy, governance etc, however, certain evils including domestic violence against women persists to this day even as he took the occasion to appeal to the womenfolk to not be silent but report to the concerned authorities whenever they experience such abuse as there are avenues for redressal of such complaints.
Meanwhile, Judge of High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman, MSLSA
HS Thangkhiew urged upon the gathering to reach out to Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) of their respective villages for guidance and assistance whenever they are being denied of their rights and entitlements and encouraged the public gathered at the event to visit each and every stall put up by various government departments especially the stall put up by the health department wherein 25 doctors are made available to attend to the needs and requirements of the participants attending the mega camp.
Other highlights of the programme include a cultural item by Vangmai SHG, Thuruk, EastJaintia Hills, a song by students of Hills Field Secondary School, Wapungand, cultural items by the Meghalaya Police Cultural Troupe.
The programme was organised by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), Shillong in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Khliehriat, and the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills, the offices of the Block Development Officers, Khliehriat, Wapung and Saipung Blocks respectively and various Government Departments .