July 5, 2004

Shillong, July 05, 2004: The Governing Body of the Total Literacy Society, West Garo Hills, in a meeting held at the Tura Circuit House on July 2, 2004, unanimously adopted a resolution for implementation of the integrated Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) and Post Literacy Programme (PLP) in the District. The resolution would be communicated to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi.

The Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills and Chairman of the Society, Mr. S Jagannathan, informed that, for the implementation of the integrated TLC programme, the District Literacy Society submitted a proposal for Rs. 2,04,00,000/-, for which the Government of India has sanctioned a total budget of Rs. 1,26,66,680/-. The District has evolved a concept of combining the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) and TLC for greater effectiveness and the survey has been started and will be completed by August, 2004.

Other steps to be taken for the programme are training of key resource persons, training of voluntary teachers and preparation and distribution of TLC and PLP materials. Besides these, regular review meetings on the programme implementation would be held during the period between October, 2004 and May, 2005.

The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to all the members of the Society to give necessary level of participation in order to make the Society a vibrant body.

Earlier, the Block Development Officer and former Secretary DLS, Mr. W D Sangma, briefly explained the purpose of the meeting, which is to impart the actual concept of the programme and urged the key functionaries at the Block level to play greater role for its successful implementation.

Later, the Secretary, TLC, Mrs. S Marak, EAC, gave a presentation on the position of the TLC and PLP of the District, the achievements from the earlier TLC and the present methodology and approach.

Shillong, July 05, 2004: The Fisheries Department, Meghalaya, on July 2, 2004, introduced a new system of fish rearing method called “Floating Cage Catchers” (FCC), at Nongmahir Reservoir, which was launched by Mr. G P Wahlang, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya. Altogether 250 Common Carp Fishes at fingerlings size were released into the cage which are to be regularly fed for six months before harvesting.

It may be mentioned that the method of the FCC was on a conception of Mr. G P Wahlang, who ewed it from Malaysia, when he visited the country earlier.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Wahlang said that the FCC, introduced at Nongmahir Reservoir, was meant for an experimental basis and for which its structure was made in a simple manner and if found successful, it will be improved to the model prevailing in Malaysia.

Among others who were present on the occasion were Mr. P Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary, AH & Vety., Mr. K N Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Fisheries Department, Mrs. C T Sangma, Director, Fisheries and other Officers of the Department.

Shillong, July 05, 2004: The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Election), Resubelpara Civil Sub-Division, East Garo Hills, has informed that the Electoral Rolls in accordance with the Assam Municipal Act, 1956, are available for inspection at his office and also the office of the Block Development Officer, Resubelpara and Municipal Board. Any claims for inclusion of names or objection to any particular entry should be lodged on or before July 8, 2004.

Shillong, July 05, 2004: The District Informatics Officer, Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh, has informed that the National Informatics Centre has set up a Website for the Agricultural Marketing Board, both at the National level and the State level. The Website will be of great help to the public especially the farmers to know the prices of the Agricultural commodities of the State. The URL of the State level website is http://www.megamb.nic.in and that of the National Level is http://www.agmarknet.nic.in. All farmers are requested to visit the Community Information Centre(CIC) set up at the C&RD Blocks of the State and get the information free of cost.

Shillong, July 05, 2004: Meghalaya Minister for Horticulture, Mr H D R Lyngdoh today inaugurated the Wholesale Regulated Market for fruits and vegetables at Mawiong, Shillong in the presence of Meghalaya Urban Affairs Minister, Mr Friday Lyngdoh and the Chief Executive Member of the KHADC, Mr Prestone Tynsong. The inaugural function was presided over by the Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Chairman of Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr G P Wahlang.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr H D R Lyngdoh said that with the inauguration of the regulated market for fruits and vegetable, the farmers would benefit most in terms of marketing their products where they would not be exploited by middlemen and also as the market also has a cold storage facility, this would help the farmers to store their products in a safe and healthy way.

Stating that the market still needs more godowns to accommodate the farmers products, Mr Lyngdoh said that the Government will soon invite tenders for construction of another 10 godowns. He also informed that the Government is endeavoring that all markets in the State especially village markets would be improved so as to help the farmers uplift their economy and also enhance the market value of their products. He also informed that the Government would explore possibilities for setting up PCOs, Banks and computers in the regulated market so that it would help the benefits of the farmers. He said that regulated markets would also be set up in other parts of the State.

Others who spoke were Mr Friday Lyngdoh, Minister for Urban Affairs and Mr Prestone Tynsong, CEM KHADC. The vote of thanks was offered by Mr S Rahman, Secretary, MSAMB, Shillong.