Jowai, April 21: The Meghalaya State Planning Board, led by Shri. Salseng C Marak, MLA, Chairman, MSPB, in presence of Prof RC Laloo, Deputy Chief Minister & Chairman, DPDC, West Jaintia Hills District, Shri. Rowell Lyngdoh, MLA, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Shri. Lakmen Rymbui, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Dr Manash Das Gupta, Dy Chairman, Dr Eureka Lyngdoh, Dy-Chairman, Shri. G Areng, Dy Chairman, Shri. Polycarp Marak, Dy Chairman, Shri. R. Rapthap, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, u Shri. D Wahlang, MCS, Addl Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District, along with officials and staff of the State Planning Board, held a meeting of the District Planning Development Council, (DPDC), of West Jaintia Hills District.
The District Heads and officials from PWD, PHE, Agriculture, Horticulture, Education, Forest, Soil Conservation, Health, Urban Affairs, Sports, Home (Police), JHADC, Disaster Management, Border, Sericulture, Tourism, C&RD –DRDA, Power (MePDCL), and others departments presented their reports and challenges related with the review of plan allocation of 2015-2016, 2016-2017.
Agriculture and Horticulture, reported their continued programs to conduct awareness programs within the district, related with the Organic Mission, and urged for increasing their allocation for provision of organic logistical support and process. The Agriculture officials requested the MSPB to look recommend more broad base incentives and solutions for promotion of organic fertilizers as presently chemical fertilizers are available in plenty in the local open market. They also suggested opening of agricultural stalls in the important markets of the district to promote the sale of important seeds and plants.
The Health department updated the MSPB members that that there was positive increase in the enrollment of Megh Health Insurance Scheme, (MHIS), within West Jaintia Hills District, as can be seen from the figures submitted where Phase-1 enrolled 23,465 (54.85%) household out of a total 42,774 and covered a population of 86,820, while Phase-2 enrolled 42,579 (62.35%) household out of the total 68,286 and covered a population of 1,57,542. In this regard the MSPB urged the health officials to make efforts to reach every corner of the entire district with this very important flagship scheme of the Government of Meghalaya which concerns the health and well being of the population..
The – Power (MePDCL), department of West Jaintia Hills District informed that the total Load requirement, within the district was 22.o MW, and out of the total 32,660 consumers there was presently a total of 13,064 defaulters within the west jaintia hills district.The PWD (Building) informed that the Maternity and Child Hospital, is almost complete and is scheduled to be handed over shortly to the Health Department.
Another area of progress was the report from the Fisheries Department within the District, wherein the total consumption of fish in west jaintia hills district was 1770 MT annually while production has now risen to 480 MT annually, however there is much opportunity to see if the shortfall of 1362 MT can be also covered. The officials reported that at present Andhra fish is meeting the shortfall and it takes about 18 to 21 days for the frozen fish to reach Shillong. The MSPB informed that they would take necessary steps to communicate to the State Government to look into this aspect so as to ultimately ensure that the district becomes self sufficient with local in fresh fish.
While reviewing the PWD and C&RD, departments, Shri. John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, said that the MSPB is encouraged with the information that convergence efforts between the PWD and C&RD is happening within the West Jaintia Hills District, which has provided much relief in providing urgently needed resources for road connectivity and where five such projects were taken up for remote villages and suggested that this approach should be escalated by the two departments to solve this very critical aspect which has affected the delivery of services to many remote villages of Meghalaya and stated that the MSPB would be again meeting the PWD, PHE and C&RD officials on 26th April 2017 in Shillong to discuss taking this matter forward.
While concluding Shri SC Marak, Chairman, MSPB, thanked the officials for their efforts in implementing the Government policies inspite of the many challenges they faced, and stated that all are there to ensure effective delivery services especially to the poor people in remote areas. The Chairman, stated that the MSPB would compile these reports from the DPDC and make necessary recommendations to the State Government.
