Tura, May 16, 2025: A Workshop on DREAM Project: Selection of a Counsellor for schools in their role in the anti-drugs Campaign and Super Campaign (Single Use Plastic Eco Recycling) held at the Conference Hall of SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura on 16th May, 2025.
Addressing the gathering on his maiden visit to Garo Hills, Director School Education and Literacy, Meghalaya Shillong Banteilang J Kharshandi stressed on three specific messages covering three main areas of which the DREAM Project is a project of Social Welfare department which deals with the campaign against drugs. Reiterating that drugs is a major social issue in the State of Meghalaya particularly in East Khasi Hills this drug menace is found to be rampant even in school level and therefore after much deliberations the department has decided to start counselling the students who are not yet exposed to this menace in collaboration with Sanker Hospital, a rehabilitation Centre in Shillong which treats patients with mental issues.
Further, emphasizing on the seriousness of the issue, the Director informed that the objective of the program is to select teachers from the schools and that the selected teachers should undergo training for one month at Sanker Hospital, Shillong where the training fee is Rs. 10,000/- only is to be paid in the ratio of 50:50 in which 50 percent would be borne by Dream project while another 50 percent by the concerned school. These teachers would then act as facilitators in the schools as well in the society and he expressed hope that in three to four years time the State would be free from drugs. He then seeks the cooperation of the principals and teachers to come forward and help to create a drug free society in the state.
Another point raised during the program is about the celebration and planting of saplings during World Environment Day every year which after planting is never cared and left to perish and therefore, he encouraged all the schools to plant few saplings especially local species which can grow easily and urged the students, teachers, principals to nurture them taking turns so that it can grow well. Further, he has also informed that from next year the department will felicitate the Best performing schools in respect of caring and nurturing the saplings in their school premises.
Moreover, informing that a program named “Super” (Single Use Plastic Eco Recycling) was launched in Shillong recently in collaboration with “My Meghalaya My Pride, he said that a toilet was constructed by using single use plastic and this model is to be replicated in a school in Tura and expand to other schools and tourist spots in the region thereby spreading the message of supporting plastic free zone in the State. He also directed the District School Education Officer Tura to identify a school and construct this toilet in the district first and to expand it to other districts as well.
The lists of schools selected for DREAM Project comprises of Don Bosco Secondary School, St. Xaviers Higher Secondary School, Christian Girls Higher Secondary School, Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Hawakhana Higher Secondary School, St. Marys Higher Secondary School, Garo Union Higher Secondary School, Little Flower Secondary School, Aeroville Higher Secondary School, Christian Boys Higher Secondary School, Mount Sinai Secondary School, Nokrek Heights, Sherwood Secondary School, Captain Williamson Secondary School, Burny Hills Secondary School and Monfort Centre for Education, Tura.
The District School Education Officer (DSEO), Tura R T K Sangma, LSEO, Tura Tengme Marak, SEOs, Teachers, Students of various schools of the district and staff of DSEL, Shillong were among others who attended the program.
