June 29, 2004

Shillong, June 29, 2004: The Meghalaya Minister of State for PWD, Mr. Sengran M Sangma, will inaugurate the Legal Literacy Campaign in Baghmara at Rangku Memorial Girls; Secondary School, on July 8, 2004. The one-day campaign would have three sessions including group discussion and concluding remarks.

Mrs. B N Sangma (Rtd. MCS), judge fast track court, Tura and Mr. L M Sangma, Deputy Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Law Department, Meghalaya, Shillong, would be attending the campaign as resource persons.

Shillong, June 29, 2004: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr D D Lapang, has strongly emphasised the need for setting up of a working group for fine tuning the guidelines for implementation of various rural development schemes in the country which would help in accelerating their accomplishment to the desired extent.

Dr Lapang while participating in the two day conference of Chief Ministers on Poverty Alleviation and Rural Prosperity held at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi today pointed out that though the rural development schemes were framed with best of intention, yet on account of the heterogeneity of the country , its special socio cultural and geographical features, the guidelines needs suitable amendments to enable the States , particularly those in the north east region, including Meghalaya to derive full benefits from these schemes and assured all assistance and cooperation towards fine tuning the guidelines.

Dwelling on the implementation of various rural development schemes in the State and the need for fine tuning the guidelines, Dr Lapang highlighted the performance and difficulties faced in achieving the desired objectives under the SGRY, SGSY, IAY, PMGSY, and IWDP schemes in Meghalaya.

Mentioning that many villages in the State need schemes for provision of hygienic drinking water throughout the year, Dr Lapang pressed for a time bound implementation of both the Swajaldhara Programme and the Total Sanitation Campaign to cover the whole State.

Informing that the Below Poverty Line Census 2002 for the State is almost complete, Dr Lapang also said that the Community Information Centres (CICs) would be utilised as the nodal points in the government endeavour to involve and inform the people on the implementation of the rural development schemes in the State.

While referring to the relevance of the Panchayati Raj vis-à-vis Meghalaya, Dr Lapang informed that unlike any other States in the country, the whole of Meghalaya is covered by the Autonomous District Councils and the population of the State predominantly comprises the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos which are matrilineal societies and that the social and economic disparities and disadvantages found in some States, especially those pertaining to the women, does not exist in Meghalaya. “The protection provided and the special status accorded to the tribal societies in my State under the constitution has its own sensitivities and the people look upon any proposal for change with reservation. However, we will study the suggestions given in the Agenda Note further and consult the local tribal institutions and this will take time”, he added.