+913642224282 cmomeghalaya@gmail.com

Meghalaya @50: Meghalaya gets renovated State Central Library, Museum on Wheels

Shillong, February 22, 2022: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday unveiled the Commemorative Artistic Mural, inaugurated the refurbished U Soso Tham Auditorium and flagged off the Museum on Wheels at U Soso Tham premises.

Congratulating the Arts & Culture department for depicting the flora and fauna and the different cultural aspects of the State in the Artistic Mural, CM Sangma said that the mural not only enhances the aesthetic look of the place but would serve as a tourist attraction and help tourists and people understand and know the State better. He also added that the U Soso Tham is an important place to host government and cultural programmes but it had not been renovated and refurbished in the past years. “It is a matter of pride that now we will be able to provide world class facilities in this refurbished auditorium,” he said.

The Chief Minister also informed that work is in progress to renovate and upgrade auditoriums at Tura and Jowai and other district headquarters in a phased manner. He also informed that the Shillong International Centre of Performing Arts and Culture (SICPAC) at Mawdiangdiang is also at the final stages of completion.

“While we preserve and showcase our cultural it is also important to ensure that we give space to our youngsters who are into performing arts to show their talents to the world,” he said adding that a number of programmes had been chalked out by the government for artists and musicians of the State as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the State but which could not be held because of the COVID situation. He, however, assured that the government will do its best to push Arts & Culture and give our budding artists an opportunity to showcase their talents. He also called upon all to maintain the assets in the State Central Library and other places of the State with a sense of ownership and belonging.

The Chief Minister and other dignitaries also released a number of books pertaining to Statehood and Culture of the State. A number of musical performances lent a lively air to the occasion.

Initiatives : Agriculture

Launch of “Restart Meghalaya Mission’ on 15th August 2020

The Mission comprise of a series of interventions to support farmers and entrepreneurs by enabling them to build growth-promoting basic infrastructure and services. Under this Mission, 1917iTEAMS – the IT Platform aimed at enabling farmers access to agricultural information, crop advisories and markets will be expanded logistically through induction of another 100 vehicles.

Creation of the Directorate of Food Processing on May 2018

With the objective of seizing opportunities in the sector and the untapped food processing potential of the state for uplifting the livelihoods of farmers and value chain actors, the Government of Meghalaya created the Directorate of Food Processing (DFP) as a one-stop agency to handle all matters relating to food processing in the state and to deal with all central government Ministries and Agencies (viz. Ministries of Agriculture, and Food Processing, SFAC, NCDC, NABARD, etc.) in all matters pertaining to the development of agricultural food processing sector.

First Ever Farmer’s Parliament held on 4th - 5th December 2018

The parliament was organised by the state department of agriculture in collaboration with Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the Hill Farmers' Union (HFU). As a step toward the promotion of new technologies, HFU with the support of Meghalaya government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence App for farmers — called Nongrep (nongrep in Khasi language means farmer) with its software partner Impetus Solutions from Hyderabad — as a social innovation project. This app will address matters of farm aggregations, soil health and disease identification, crop yield, farm produce pickups, market linkage and retail sellers app.

Launch of the Farmer’s Portal on 7th May 2018

The Meghalaya Famers’ Portal (www.megfarmers.gov.in) of the Department of Agriculture is a platform for farmers to seek any information related to agriculture. Detailed information on farmers’ insurance, agricultural storage, crops, extension activities, seeds, pesticides, farm machineries, etc. is provided. Details of fertilizers, market prices, package and practices, programmes, welfare schemes are also given.

Awards & Recognitions
  • Meghalaya has been selected for the Commendation award in 'Total foodgrains Category-III' for 2017-18. The award consists of a citation and an amount of Rs. 1 crore.
  • Meghalaya Agriculture Department and the MIE Meghalaya Team won the '7th eNabling North East (eNorth East) Award 2019-20' in the 'Agriculture & Rural Development' category for 1917 iTEAMS project which is a project in collaboration with Digital India.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded Meghalaya on May 2018 the Krishi Commendation Award for the year 2015-16, in recognition of the commendable foodgrains production achieved by the State.
  • Meghalaya has been adjudged the Most Improved Small State in the category of Agriculture and received the India Today – "The State of the States” Award on 23rd November 2018.