Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra begins in North Garo Hills

Staff Reporter

Shillong, November 21: Committed to inclusive progress, ensuring every village and every citizen benefit from developmental schemes, ensuring ‘Health For All’ health camps are conducted as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra across the country.

A medical health camp was also organized at Harinkata Rabha village in the North Garo Hills district of Meghalaya as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

District Medical Health Officer briefed on Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and other schemes of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. During the Sankalp Yatra, health camps are also being organized in different districts of the State: East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills where health services like Ayushman Card creation, screenings for diseases like TB, Sickle Cell, Diabetes, and Hypertension were provided.

A thorough screening was held, encompassing essential health check-ups such as blood pressure and sugar level assessments. Attendees had the opportunity to receive instant ABHA Cards and Ayushman Health Cards, providing them with quick access to healthcare services. In addition to health services, agricultural-related concerns were addressed by expert advisors on-site. The experts assisted in resolving issues related to agriculture, ensuring that the farming community received valuable insights and solutions to enhance productivity.

The Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) conducted a drone demonstration at Mylliem in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The demonstration showcased effective use of technology to enhance agricultural productivity. The spreading of pesticides through drones, thus making effective management of pests in the farming of food crops had gained wide admiration from the villagers.

While in Dambo Rongjeng, Silchang Gittim, East Garo Hills district a drone demonstration was also carried out by the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra demonstrating effective use of technologies to enhance productivity.

Meanwhile, an IEC Van of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reached Harinkata Rabha, North Garo Hills district, Meghalaya. It was flagged off by ADC Nipon Hajong. People across the country are receiving the benefits of various health schemes under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

While in Lumcharatoh village and Wahrymbai village under Thadlaskein Block of West Jaintia Hills district witnessed effective demonstration of the IEC Van highlighting the schemes and programmes of the Government of India. Drone demonstrations were also conducted in both the locations.

The aim of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is to generate awareness regarding the Central government’s welfare schemes and policies and achieve 100 per cent saturation of flagship government schemes.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra begins in Meghalaya

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 15: Meghalaya joined the rest of the nation to mark the commencement of the nationwide “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra,” a transformative initiative aimed at reaching the unreached and ensuring effective outreach of Government schemes.

The focus of the Yatra will be on reaching out to people and creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water, etc. Enrolment of potential beneficiaries will be done through details ascertained during the Yatra.

In Meghalaya, the Viksit Bharat Yatra was inaugurated in East Khasi Hills district today. The Yatra will be covering all the Gram Panchayats (GP)/Blocks of West Jaintia Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills district also.

Chief Secretary DP Wahlang flagged off the vehicles carrying the message of “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” from the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Khyndailad, Shillong while inaugurating the Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride). He emphasized the State’s commitment to the nationwide Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. This Yatra marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and developed India, with a shared commitment to the growth and prosperity of the nation, he added. The Chief Secretary also inaugurated the cultural procession/march on Tribal Pride by artists, cultural troops and cultural associations. 

During the State level function of the Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride) at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong, Minister Arts & Culture, Paul Lyngdoh attended as the Chief Guest while CEM, KHADC, Pyniaid Syiem was the Guest of Honour.  

Floral tributes were paid to the fallen tribal heroes of the State by dignitaries and invites at the life size statue. A tribal museum which showcases tribal cuisine, craft and culture were also set up for the function.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the program marking the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, 2023 in Khunti, Jharkhand. During the programme, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ and Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission. He also released the 15th instalment of PM-KISAN. Modi also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects in Jharkhand worth Rs 7200 crore in multiple sectors like rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas. He also took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion.

A video message from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu was played on the occasion. 

The Prime Minister also led the Viksit Bharat Sankalp pledge on the occasion.

Marcuise accused of violating model code of conduct

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: Social activist Tennydard M Marak has filed an FIR against Cabinet Minister and Williamnagar legislator Marcuise N Marak for alleged corrupt practices and violation of the model code of conduct in the recently held 2023 Assembly elections.

The FIR was filed with the Williamnagar police station in East Garo Hills District.

Tennydard had also filed a complaint petition before the Chief Election Commissioner of India on March 23, with copies to the Prime Minister of India, Home Minister as well as Chairman of the North East Democratic Alliance requesting their intervention into the matter and take necessary steps to declare the election of Marcuise N Marak to be void for adopting corrupt practices and holding a fresh election in Williamnagar constituency.

In the FIR, the activist alleged that Marcuise N Marak had circulated the Report Card of 2018-2022 on his activities during the last five years during the election campaigns.

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“What is shocking to note that Marcuise N Marak had circulated the report card (which was) printed and published by Jesubell Ch Marak (block secretary, NPP) on February 3, whereas the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission is in operation in the state with effect from January 18, thereby amounts to a clear violation of the model code of conduct and therefore, his election deserves to be declared as illegal and fresh election be held,” he said.

Stating that Marcuise has not only deceived the voters of Williamnagar but also a case of breach of trust, Tennydard said the report card is just a blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the MLA.

He further alleged that the report card contained a false and fabricated report of achievement during 2018-2022 but contains no agenda of what he will do if he is elected and thereby misguided the voters by showing his fabricated performance report which has no foot to stand.

“The report card also exposed the true picture of his zero performance report so to say as the works are either incomplete or not done anything at all but claimed to have done it. The pictures given in my petition to the Chief Election Commissioner of India will reveal the truth of my claim,” he said while adding that “The report card claims to have done beautification of the Williamnagar Girls Secondary School is nothing but a blatantly false and fabricated claim of Marcuise N Marak. If you visit the school today you will find the actual truth of his false claim as the school has a boundary wall with rotten rested C.I. Sheets and most importantly the Girls have no gate which is a must for any school.”

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He said that the report card also claims under Sl. No. 7 (a) PMGSY: The road from Nengmandalgre to Mandalgre (35 KM) costing Rs 80 crores is a Road under “Prime Ministers Gram Sadak Yajna” which he has nothing to do but he did not even hesitate to take credit of the work of PMGSY unduly adding “It is a matter of great shame”.

Tennydard said he has waited for more than 10 days but unfortunately no action has been initiated till date for such an important issue.

“Under compelling circumstances, I am filing this FIR with enough prima facie evidence so that the police can verify the truth and initiate appropriate steps after due investigation and book him under the proper section of the law and leave an example of rule of law that “nobody is above the law” before the society at large – which is the need of the present hour,” he said while requesting the police to register a case under the proper section of the law and initiate strictest action against the guilty without wasting any further loss of time.

Meghalaya: Ampareen Lyngdoh stresses on need for regular evaluation of depts.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 14: Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has reviewed the functioning of her departments – health & agriculture – and asserted the need for regular evaluation of their performances.

“I would like to see that the department evaluate themselves regularly,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

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Stating that there would be a hundred-day plan in both the departments, she said, “I will work with the departments and we will constantly find a way out to be in touch with the head of the state because if that intervention which is lacking is not attended to then I think we will have the sense of defeat and we have to get pass this feeling of hopelessness in our service to the public. I will try my best to be there as well to make sure that I am able to do that.”

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Asserting that governance is not all about those in government, the East Shillong legislator said, “I think we need to give every MLA in the state of Meghalaya equal opportunity to present their versions of what our weaknesses, our challenges and our strengths are.”

“I would like to see that we work together as a team because Meghalaya will only shine if every individual elected to the House is given that opportunity to express how best we can turn around our system,” she added.

Referring to the health and the agriculture sector as two very big departments, the lone woman cabinet minister said, “I am also happy to know that we have now segregated a few missions whether it is with Agriculture or with the health department. Now we need to make sure that the missions we have embarked on actually materialize and start yielding the necessary results.”

“So I hope that we are able to do justice to all of these. I have also seen that technological interventions are a major component both in the health as well as in the agriculture department. They have tried to segregate each of these departments. They have given me the ideas of where are the areas of funding and which are the areas that need to be further improved,” she added.

Giving a quick review of the health department, Lyngdoh said that as a minister she has noticed that if there is anything that needs to work in the state, it has to be a participatory attempt by the government agencies as well as private players and the people and the entire unique system that we have in the state.

“I have made one major observation in the health department. The first thing is that finally we are now at that stage where we believe if health has to be understood we have to first involve grassroot participation. That was good thing I saw where we now are going to be involving the people in implementation of various health schemes in the state of Meghalaya,” she said while asserting that “We will never be able to address the entire problems of infant mortality or maternal mortality rate if we do not have people participating in it.”

She further emphasized the need to evaluate all health schemes being provided to the people and to also be understood by the recipients of such schemes.

“In the health department, we have seen that systems need to be installed. Now we are looking at the last mile approach which is again very good,” she added.

Also stating that the agriculture department has its own set of challenges, Lyngdoh said, “We now need to make sure that marketing is at centre stage in agriculture. That having been understood, we need to take it forward.”

“We now understand that organic farming is to a larger extent practiced in the state of Meghalaya. I have been briefed that we have some challenges there as well because our farmers are not used to this kind of an approach.”

She also commented on the cooperative movements and self-help groups in the agriculture department and said these are all people motivated oriented programmes.

She further stressed the need to make sure that auditing of all the funds in the two departments should be done by the people for the people.

Lyngdoh also stated that bureaucracy in the state has realized that people are important because it was quite distant five years ago.

“This is again going to be good for us and the state of Meghalaya and I am going to ensure that this good model is actually carried out in letter and spirit. This is one thing that I have seen in both the agriculture as well as in the health department,” she underscored.

Speaking about the upcoming Assembly’s budget session which will commence from March 20, Lyngdoh said, “I will again look at all of this once we pass the first Assembly. Budgeting is something which I am exposed to both in the health as well as in the agriculture department. I will not be able to comment much on whether or not the budgeting that we are going to receive will be sufficient to overcome all of these challenges that we have seen in the various departments.

Of course, we are depending to a large extent on central funding. So like every other department in the state of Meghalaya central funding is the dominating source of funds so I will have to look at all of this to see how best we can go ahead and make sure that we start performing both in the health as well as in the agriculture department.”

Meghalaya’s Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh emphasizes on need for regional parties to rebuild themselves

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 9: UDP leader and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh today said there is a need for regional parties to rebuild themselves.

 His statement came after the attempt of the regional parties to form an alternative government could not materialize.

 “We need to rebuild and we need to do our proper homework. We failed because whatever unity that was there was so fragile, so there are lessons that we can learn and we have learned,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

 On the former UDP president late Donkupar Roy’s dream to ever come true, the minister however said, “Well there is a saying that between what is said and done, more is said and less is done and I think we have to try to walk the talk, set goals, refocus and reenergize ourselves.”

 The UDP has 11 MLAs in the just-elected 59-member House.