Governor’s House Tura almost complete

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: Construction of the Governor’s House at Tura, West Garo Hills is likely to be completed by March next year.

In his reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today, GAD Minister Rakkam A Sangma said that the time of completion for the balance works is 12 months from the date of issue of final work order that is by March 24, 2024.

The time of completion of the additional works is 12 months from the date of issue of the Final work order which is by January 2024, he added.

The original administrative approval was accorded on September 7, 2009. The foundation stone was laid on August 6, 2010

The administrative approval for the balance works was accorded on December 2, 2020 and administrative approval for additional works was accorded on October 27, 2022.

The original tender was floated on November 14, 2009, and the tender for the balance works was floated on December 3, 2020. The tender for additional works was floated on October 28, 2022.

The minister said that the original sanctioned amount is Rs 5,47,89,000.

“Sanctioned amount for balance works is Rs 10,97,87,971. The sanctioned amount for additional works Rs 7,68,81,960. Therefore, the total amount sanctioned is Rs 24,14,58,931,” he added.

IGNOU setting benchmarks for Open Distance Learning: Guv

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 4: The Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan today graced the 36th Convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at IGNOU Regional Center Shillong, NEHU Campus. The Convocation was part of the main function conducted at IGNOU Headquarters at New Delhi and also simultaneously in all 33 Regional Centers across the country.

Delivering the Convocation Address, the Governor lauded the Indira Gandhi National Open University for taking the national responsibility of promoting and setting benchmarks for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online education (OL) in Meghalasystems in India and the world. “IGNOU, which is known to be the World’s largest open University with above 3 million enrolments of students in different IGNOU programmes, has made significant contributions to democratizing Higher Education in the country by providing access to a large number of aspirants through the Open & Distance mode and through online mode,” he added.

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Stressing on the need for shifting from the conventional degree to Skill Development, Employability, Entrepreneurship and Community Development programs, the Governor reiterated the importance for every University in India to make its academic programmes more futuristic and need-oriented. “The NEP puts a greater emphasis on restructuring academic programmes to make them multidisciplinary and holistic. Academic programmes should focus not only on the creation of new knowledge but also to acquire skills required for the job market”, he said.

The Governor further stated that to fulfill India’s mission and goal set by NEP 2020, there is a need of the hour to make a collaborative framework between Central and State government institutes to identify skill-based bridge courses in the emerging area of professional/vocational programmes.

Established in April 1988, IGNOU Regional Centre Shillong at present has 21 Learner Support Services covering 10 districts of Meghalaya. This year 1319 learners are being conferred Degrees/ Diplomas/ certificates for this 36th Convocation under the Shillong Regional Centre.