Shillong, Jan 21: Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya Governor Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.) participated in the 51st anniversary of Meghalaya Day at Shillong on Saturday. The Governor greeted the people of the State and recalled that 51 years ago on 21stJanuary in 1972, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi presided over the historic function of the creation of the full-fledged state of Meghalaya at Polo ground, Shillong, thus fulfilling the long cherished political aspirations of our people of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills.
The Governor said that Meghalaya's Statehood movement was a genuine and hard-pursued peoples' movement. In spite of numerous challenges, the united efforts of our visionary leaders and the aspirations of our people for the recognition of our traditions and values, secured for us this beautiful State of our own, while recalling eminent leaders, B.B Lyngdoh, Edwin Bareh, Capt. W.A Sangma, H.S Lyngdoh, Professor G.G. Swell, Stanley Nichols Roy, H. Hynniewta, Wilson Reade, Prof. R. S Lyngdoh and many others. It is due to their vision and determination that today we have our own Government to meet our own aspirations, he said.
The Governor called upon the people of the State to reiterate the commitment to wisely use the State's resources and revolutionize the administrative machinery to make Meghalaya a role model of all-round development. 
Highlighting the initiatives of the State in tourism, education, hydro-electricity, health and connectivity, the Governor said that improving connectivity is crucial to the progressive building of the future of the State. Efforts are on to upgrade and build roads and bridges in different districts of the State. The four-laning of NH 40 and the Shillong ByPass has substantially eased the traffic woes of the commuters. He said that health is another area of core concern and focus. The State committed to provide quality health care services to our people, particularly in remote areas. The Government is receptive to the concept of public-private partnerships in the fields of health management, research, training and emergency health response services. Having identified areas of concern, the State extended the reach of health services through increasing the number of hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Sub-Centres, he said.
The Governor said that tourism activities are not only for the economic growth of the State but are also in keeping with our time-honoured traditions of respecting and offering the best to the guests. United efforts are underway to make Brand Meghalaya a force to reckon with. To cement our commitment to achieve this goal, the Tourism Policy has been adopted wherein the Government will help create the basic infrastructure for tourism development and the private sector will help to provide quality products by activating the support services. Such initiatives will go a long way in opening up employment opportunities for our educated unemployed youths, he said.
The Governor, while congratulating Meghalaya Day of Excellence Awardees said that the awards have been presented to well deserving employees in recognition of their meritorious services to the Public. The State knows that productive and efficient Government machinery is greatly dependent on the diligent and sincere functioning of its employees. He reposed his trust that the example set by the awardees will inspire others to emulate them. He also extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the Meghalaya Day and Police Medal awardees whose names were announced.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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