Tura, August 16, 2024: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong hoisted the National Flag today at Matchakolgre L P School Playground, New Tura and took the Rashtriya Salute of 18 Parade Contingents comprising of, 2nd MLP Battalion, Goeragre, Tura DEF, National Cadet Corps Boys and Girls from Tura Government College, Don Bosco College, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Pechon Memorial School, Scouts Troop and Guide Company from St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School and Band Party from 2nd MLP Battalion, Tura. The Marching Contingents was led by Parade Commander Walsal Momin, Deputy Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Tura.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani, Additional Deputy Commissioners’, Assistant Commissioners’ from the district, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Abraham T Sangma, District Officials of various departments, senior citizens, principals, teachers and students of different schools and people of the district were present at the function.
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While addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Guest Prestone Tynsong paid homage to our freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Dr. B R Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose as the founding fathers of the nation. He also reminded the sacrifices and contribution of our own patriots such as U Tirot Sing, U Kiang Nangbah, Pa Togan Sangma and also reminded the pain of those who were displaced by the Partition of India.
The Chief Guest also reminded the sacrifices of the armed forces, paramilitary forces and the police forces of the country and the State who have made great sacrifice in protecting the rule of law.
Mentioning about the ambitious economic growth plan for transforming the State into $ 10 billion economy, he said that it took shape in the form of Mission 10. He further informed that they have identified 10 opportunity sectors which hold immense potential to generate prosperity for the State and assured 10 welfare guarantees to the citizens so that prosperity is equitably distributed among all Meghalayans.
Further, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that the overall Law and order situation in the State was by and large peaceful and the General Elections were conducted smoothly in April. The process of resolving the interstate border dispute with Assam made steady progress this year and committees deployed in both the states are working towards an amicable solution to the dispute in the remaining six areas, he said.
The Chief Guest then mentioned about the three new criminal laws, namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam which have come into force from 1st July 2024 and the Government of Meghalaya, through a notification on 26th June 2024 has applied the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to the Courts of Meghalaya. However, the Autonomous District Council Courts will continue to function under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, he said.
Moreover, due to the recent crisis in Bangladesh, the Government of Meghalaya has heightened security along the border and have also taken steps to coordinate the evacuation of our students studying there including an online registration platform is being introduced to ensure the availability of real-time data on Meghalayans studying or working abroad, he said.
Meghalaya’s state expenditure has doubled from Rs. 10,967 crores to Rs. 27,027 crores in the last five years as an outcome of improved governance, financial management, and efficient service delivery.
Further, in the Agriculture sector, the income of the farmers continued to rise and about 1.5 lakh households have benefitted from the Mission Mode projects in the cultivation of Lakadong Turmeric, Khasi Mandarin, ginger, mushroom and jackfruit. New initiatives like State Organic Mission is expected to bring 1 lakh hectares under certified organic cultivation and the recently announced CM Farm+ initiative would provide farmers with planting materials and cash crop support to expand the area under cultivation of high value crops like fruits and spices. He also mentioned that Meghalaya’s farmers exported more than 10 metric tons of high-value horticultural produces this year to overseas markets and that about 10 metric tons of pineapples from Garo Hills were recently sold at the 2nd Meghalaya Pineapple Festival held in New Delhi.
He said that the CM-ELEVATE program has provided a massive impetus to the animal husbandry sector and about 20,000 livestock and poultry farmers have applied for bank-linked financial subsidies under the scheme and 1100 dairy farmers have been consolidated into 103 cooperative societies under the Meghalaya Milk Mission.
In the Health sector, he mentioned that the Government has allocated 9 % of the State’s budget to healthcare which has resulted in 47 % drop in maternal deaths and 30 % drop in infant mortality which is attributed to the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme launched in 2022 to provide timely obstetric care to expectant women in hard to reach areas.
The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that in order to ensure Meghalaya’s students benefit from the latest curricular advancements all NEHU-affiliated colleges have successfully implemented New Education police starting this academic year while Captain Williamson Sangma State University is ready for academic initiation as Meghalaya’s first State University.
Moreover, he said that as part of the Tourism project, about 3,000 local musicians have been promoted through Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project and have also launched the Hello Meghalaya OTT platform to provide support to filmmakers and audiovisual content creators in Meghalaya’s indigenous languages where filmmakers and content creators can earn upto Rs. 5 lakhs per year by releasing their content on the platform.
Further, the multilingual citizens grievance redressal helpline and platform CM-CONNECT was launched to enable the Government to gauge the delivery of schemes, effectiveness of different services and to address citizens’ grievances promptly. He also mentioned that the Government is implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernization Program which includes cadastral survey, digitization of land records and computerization of sub-register offices and the implementation is being done through the three Autonomous District Councils and would greatly improve land record management in the Autonomous District councils and the State Government.
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During the function, the Chief Guest felicitated the First Position holder of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Examination, 2024 Anuj Chetry, Jonathon Singkam M Sangma for his outstanding performance in JEE, UPSC (NDA & NA) Indian Institute of Space and Technology (IIST), JEE Advanced and Dominic Megam Sangma for his immense contribution in film making and his film Rapture won the Best New Director Award, Best Original Music in the Asian Film Award among others.
The Chief Guest also conferred the Certificate of Appreciation to the staff of various department of the district for their hard work, dedication and sincerity namely Warner Techeng K Sangma, Senior Enumerator, DC (Election) Tura, Mohan Singh, BLO, 56-Gambegre 33 Daren A’gal, Frederick Sangma, BLO, 51-South Tura 9-Dobasipara, Morjina T Sangma, Staff nurse, Tikrikilla PHC including Kherapara VHC, Robagre VHC, Muri A’pal VHC, Boldampitgri VHC, Balsri Gittim HVHC, Sategre VHC and Block Programme Management (BPMU), Revenue Branch of Deputy Commissioners’ Office, Tura, Tura Civil Hospital and Tura Municipal Board.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Tura Jagdish Chelani also presented the Certificate of Appreciation to staff of various department of the district namely, Abdus Sobur, Multi Purpose Rehabilitation Worker (Demdema Block), Amanda Lisa M Sangma, Community based Rehabilitation Worker (Tura Urban), Salse N Sangma, Community based Rehabilitation Worker (Dalu Block), Dhiraj Banai, Head Assistant, Pius R Marak, Peon, Wilseng B Marak, Sericulture Demonstrator, Samseng M Sangma, Peon, Daud W Momin, Peon, Ratul Ch Sangma, Sweeper, Cheizy Chintu K Marak, LDA, Selbister M Sangma, Peon, Kiranbirth D Sangma for his hard work, dedication and sincerity in his service.
Further, the DIG, Tura Dr. Ragavendra Kumar distributed the Certificate of Appreciation along with Mobile Phones to the staff of various department of the district namely, Samuel A Sangma, Peon, Canforth N Sangma, Senior Vety Assistant, Branlow R Marak, Peon, Salim Sangma, Regular Casual Worker, Budot Ch Marak, Regular Casual Worker, Kantseng Ch Marak, UDA, Babun Ch Marak, Muster Roll, Denis Megam Momin, Assistant Operator, Rodhil M Sangma, Agri Marketing Intelligence Inspector, Zakir Hussain Sarkar, Horticulture Inspector, Tikrikilla Block, Repsonsing R Marak, Supervisor, Steel Fabrication, DCIC, Tura and Michelle Ch Momin, DMM, NRLM-MSRLS, Tura for their hard work, commitment and diligence in discharging their duties.
Meanwhile in March Past, Pechon Memorial Higher Secondary School NCC Boys were adjudged the First, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School NCC Boys, the Second and the Don Bosco College, NCC Boys, the Third respectively.
Other highlights of the day include colourful cultural programmes befitting the occasion presented by students of different schools of the district including display of arms by Police department and stalls by different department at the venue. Blood Donation Camp is also being organised at Tura Civil Hospital.
Various events comprising of Bike Rally from Dakopgre to DC Park, Inter-Mahari Tug-of-War at Matchakolgre LP School Playground, Exhibition Football match between Education Department, Tura versus Medical Department at Artificial Turf, Chandmary Playground, Tura, Cricket Match between DC XI versus Paramilitary Department at Police Parade Ground, Tura have been organised at multiple locations in and around Tura.
Further, Flea Market consisting of Visual Arts & Craft, Handloom items, Jewellery, Food and Beverage, Sit and Paint for Children, Sports and Games for children, Live Music by Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project, Tura was organised at DC Park, Tura.
