Ironical is may seem, though the joint initiative of Central Government and Government of Meghalaya was launched for The 24x7 Power for All, the villages in hundreds in several parts of the state continued to remain in lantern age.
That is where a serious issue crops up. Meghalaya was a power surplus state till a few decades ago. If it was a power surplus state, how could the villages numbering a hefty 1,400 not electrified? It is here from where we should make our journey to examine the malady of the chapter of darkness of those villages.
Meghalaya has about 6,000 villages. Out of them, the rural electrification was started in 4,959 villages as part of the Saubhagya Scheme. But only 3,469 villages were electrified and rest thrown in the devil’s darkness.
Why? This is a big question. The answer to this question was recently found in large scale anomalies in state’s power department came by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Prime Minister was in Mathura for a day where he addressed the nation on several important issues, one of being was on terrorism.He addressed that, today terrorism has become an ideology which has transgressed every border. It is a global problem and has become a global threat, whose strong roots are getting nourished in our neighbourhood,” Prime Minister affirmed that India was capable of meeting the threats without referring to Pakistan by name. The entire world needs to take a pledge to combat terrorism, the forces that were advancing its cause and those giving shelter and training to terrorists.He said, “There is a need for strong action. India is fully competent to face the challenge. We have shown this and will also show it in future.”
BJP State Vice-President, Vijay Kumar Gupta is one of veteran and deep rooted BJP leader in the party, who over the years shouldered many a responsibilities in various capacity at different point of time since the inception of the party in Assam. Because of his service and contribution in the party, he was not only elevated to the post of Vice-President of state BJP but also appointed as the Chairman of Assam Financial Corporation (AFC).
Gupta was on two-day visit to Dhubri district early this month to take stock of the situation prevailing in Dhubri district after publication of NRC final list and to interact with the people whose names did not figure in the final list published on August 31. Vijay Kumar Gupta (VKG) exclusively talked to Associate Editor, Bijoy Kumar Sharma (BKS) at Circuit House here, expressed his views and points of resentments on NRC. The excerpt of the formal talk as follows.
Well-known as “Father of the Nation”, Mahatma Gandhi’s all the four visits to the then compact Assam was literally an epoch-making event in the political history of the State. Historically speaking, he paid four visits to Assam. He visited the State at a time when the national movement across the country was at its zenith. Significantly, every time he visited the state, he came across an agenda of doing some constructive and valuable works successfully done through his colleagues within Assam as also those from other parts of the country.
Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani laid the Foundation Stone of the Integrated Textiles Tourism Complex at Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
During her address, Smt. Irani said that the Central Government is committed to supplement the endeavors of the State Government for development in the sector of textiles and women and child development. She said that the complex and the activities therein have been funded by the Government of India so that the art of Meghalaya prospers. The minister informed the gathering that it has been the direction of the Prime Minister to skill the people of Meghalaya, specially for a state like Meghalaya which celebrates the aptitude of 54000 artisans in the beautiful state, to ensure that those who currently undertake crafts in wood, bamboo, stone carving, embroidering, pottery, dry flower and jewellery will get benefits and aid from Government of India.
The Minister said that Rs 8 crore has been sanctioned for skill development program for 7,200 people in Meghalaya in the textile sector. The Union Minister also announced that under the ‘Samarth’ scheme which erstwhile plans to skill 7,200 youth in apparel & garmenting, textiles and handloom sectors has now been extended.
Smt Irani said, that under the handicraft sector, the Government had created an identity card called 'Pehchaan' to help the artisan avail benefits, including free tool kits for people coming from economically challenged backgrounds.
Since Meghalaya is one of the hubs of 'ahimsa' silk, till date over 3,000 people from Meghalaya have applied for the program. The Union Minister urged the Meghalaya Government to utilize this capacity of the State and to promote the brand worldwide. The motive of this program is to provide benefits and branding of the ‘Ahimsa Silk’ in the sericulture sector.
The Union Minister also informed that there are various initiatives from the Government of India whereby artisans are encouraged to pursue their studies by funding of 75% of their education fees by the Government and urged the people to make full use of these Government’s programs.
The Union Minister distributed free tool kits to beneficiaries and also interacted with the children and Anganwadi Workers at the Umdihar 1, Ri Bhoi district Meghalaya.
Meanwhile Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma appreciated the efforts put in by the Government of India and the commitment of the Union Minister to work for the welfare of the people of Meghalaya.
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