Poverty must be eradicated from State: Mukul

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Jan 21: As Meghalaya today celebrated its 44th Statehood day, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has laid stress on the need to eradicate poverty and backwardness from the state.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sangma said, “It is important for all of us to seek better light for the people who are less privileged and ensure their holistic development.”

He said the biggest challenge for the state and its people is poverty and backwardness.

“Some parents do not have enough money to pay for their children’s school fees and they would ask their children not to appear for their examition,” he said.

He said the objective of the state is to provide education and better health care for the people.

Earlier, Chief Secretary, P B O Warjri, said, “We should work together so that our state will become an example where other people will look up too.”

The Chief Minister also conferred the Meghalaya Day Excellence Award to 15 government employees from across the state.

The award carried a citation and a cash award of Rs 20,000.

The recipients of the Meghalaya Day Excellence Award 2015 were, Borbah Khongwir, E Y Chen, Lamjingshaihun Shabong, Geraldine M Laitflang, Albert Myrchiang, Kenny Ch Marak, Surajit Dey, Moonstar Kharmihpen, Purelinda Lungdoh Nongbri, Prem Bahadur Sarki, Anjalie N Sangma, Betterson D Sangma, Ranjit Kumar Roy, Nirmal Kr Samal and Jemsforth Marak.

e-District Services under East Khasi Hills was also launched by the Chief Minister during the celebration.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of cultural programmes on the occasion of Meghalaya Day.