Shillong, July 8: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma inaugurated the newly constructed Cultural Complex-cum-District Library at Nongpoh in the presence of former Chief Minister & Chief Adviser to the Government, Dr. D.D.Lapang, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Pooja Pandey and Director, Art & Culture, Matsiewdor War-Nongbri on Friday afternoon.
The Chief Minister also gave away the felicitated the ‘open defecation free’ (ODF) villages, while Dr. Lapang felicitated the Swachh Bharat team led by Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey during the celebration of success of rural sanitation in Ri Bhoi district in the same venue.
It may be mentioned that 527 villages of three C&RD blocks under Ri Bhoi district have achieved ODF status, till date and the district was also given certificate of appreciation from the Union Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation on April 26, 2016 for its performance Swachh Bharat Mission. This achievement has been possible due to intensive awareness campaign and adoption of low cost technology in construction of safe toilets with the involvement of private and public enterprises through corporate social responsibility.
In his address, the Chief Minister congratulated all the partners and stakeholders of the respective villages on their achievement of ODF status through their collective endeavour. Citing the example of Mawlynnong and how people’s movement can bring the change we want, he said that the shared objective of clean and green environment can be achieved when all the people come together and take it as their shared responsibility, he said and expressed his hope that cent percent villages of the State would very soon achieve the ODF status.
Based on the rich natural resources available in the State he spoke of the number of initiative taken up by the State Government for sustainable livelihood and sustainable ecology, including clean and green campaign under Mission Green which was launched before the Swachh Bharat Mission and which he said goes beyond the ODF concept. “Under this mission, we not only acknowledge and declare them as clean & green village of the year and give them award, but they are also eligible to submit programmes for developmental schemes. It is a complete motivational programme where people own up the programme and drive it forward”, he added. He urged upon the officers to drive the programmes under Mission Green with active participation of the community.
While dedicating the new structure – Cultural complex-cum-District Library – to the people of the district, he urged upon them to make use of the asset to have some kinds of programmes every weekend and also informed the gathering that the department of Arts & Culture will soon establish Centre of Excellence for teaching the youth to excel as vocalists and musicians.
The complex is established to cater to the culture rich population of the area under 13th Financial Year Awsrd, 2013 and its construction was completed within 20 months. The first floor of the building is the Library and the second floor is the auditorium.
Chief Adviser to the Government, Dr. D.D. Lapang in his address as the guest of honour, also congratulated the SBM team, the headmen and the NGOs for their hard work and cooperation with the Government in making Ri Bhoi district clean and green and also sought the cooperation of the people with the Government for further development in the district.
Minister for Home, Roshan Warjri, Parliamentary Secretary, Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Deputy Commissioner & Chairperson, District Water & Sanitation Mission, Dr. Pooja Pandey, Director, Art & Culture, Matsiewdor War-Nongbri and ADC & PD, DRDA, D. Hynniewta, were among others who also spoke on the occasion.
