Meghalaya Governor flags off IEC van for Urban from Raj Bhavan

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Dec 1: The Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan ceremoniously flagged off the IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Van for the Urban areas under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from Raj Bhavan Shillong today. This initiative, originating from Khunti, Jharkhand, on November 15, 2023, dedicated to tribal areas, has now expanded its footprint to cover the entire nation covering both rural and urban areas.

In Meghalaya, the Van will cover urban localities across Meghalaya. This Yatra represents the largest-ever outreach initiative by the Government of India. Rooted in the vision of inclusive development, it has consistently aimed to ensure that the benefits of government schemes saturate every corner of the nation, achieving 100 per cent coverage. Each day, the vans will make two halts in prominent places, facilitating health camps, Aadhar enrollment, and other essential services.

Real-time data on ground-level activities, facilitated by Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) vans, is systematically captured on a portal developed by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The overarching goal of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is to raise awareness and facilitate the delivery of welfare scheme benefits, spanning sanitation, financial services, electricity, housing, and more. Highlighted schemes include Ayushman Bharat, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, PM Svanidhi and PM Awas Yojana, among others.

The Yatra signifies a significant stride towards realizing this objective through extensive outreach, information dissemination, and empowering citizens to actively contribute to the country’s development.

The programme in Raj Bhavan was attended by senior officials of the state government and officials from Health Department, Civil Supplies, MUDA Authority, District Lead Bank Manager and Shillong Municipal Board and Social Welfare. Later in the day an outreach programme was held near Polo in Shillong where different departments particpated. Certifcates were also distributed on the spot to beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi.

CM inspects ongoing projects in WGH

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inspected several ongoing projects with Tura and its adjoining areas in West Garo Hills on Thursday.

He inspected the ongoing construction of the Tura Medical College at Doldegre, about 7 km from Tura town, where Tura Civil Hospital is located.

Reviewing the ongoing construction with officials of health department, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills and officials of the construction company, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the pace of the construction is slow, which has been quickened recently.

“The civil works of the college should be completed by June-July next year. We are hopeful to complete the infrastructure and start the medical college. The process to increase the beds in Tura Civil Hospital will also start soon,” the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister has also directed Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani to hold regular reviews with the construction company and ensure that the college is completed within the coming year.

He also inspected the ongoing construction of Tura Youth Convention Centre, which is coming up at Dakopgre and also the Track and Field Stadium.

Expressing happiness over the ongoing construction of the sports and youth facilities, he said, “We expect that within 1.5 years, the stadium and the convention centre will be inaugurated. These two infrastructures will be a blessing for Tura town and the State as a whole as different kinds of sports, games and events of State and national level can be held in Tura in the near future.”

Construction of Tura Medical College in progress

Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has informed that the work for the construction of the Tura medical college is progressing.

ALSO READ: Meghalaya Govt to meet ADCs over proposed amendment to 6th Schedule

“We have about 45 per cent of physical progress. There are some problems (and) we are engaging with other nearby hospitals to ensure that we reach the mark of 450 beds as recommended by the MCI,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She said that there were also certain problems with the availability of funds but that also has been sorted out.

The minister also announced that she will be visiting the construction site very shortly and said, “I am waiting for the model code of conduct to be completed quickly so I can begin to go on the ground to understand better but the Tura Medical College is progressing.

On the proposal to set up the Shillong medical college, Lyngdoh said that the government is yet to formulate a finalized approach and the matter has still to be taken to the cabinet adding that “but internal engagements are on”.

“We still require proper cabinet note to be sent proper projections to be made but yes Shillong medical college will probably change from the old proposal,” she said while adding that “We may have a PPP proposal as proposed earlier but not necessarily in Shillong but somewhere in this part of the state but all of this is being prepared now and it would be incorrect for me to divulge too much on that but one message which can go very clearly is that we are a concern and we are on the job and we will come up with a proposal and a plan at the earliest.”

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We want these institutions to be materialized within the timeline that was specified. I know that yes we were told to institute one and it has been done in the Garo region yes we have to institute something in the Khasi region or the Ri Bhoi region as well that is we are on the job and on the pipeline but we cannot spell it out with full authority as we are still at a discussion level and we still looking at what is the best way forward.”