Shillong, Oct 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today laid the foundation stone for the Mini Secretariat at Patharkhmah and inaugurated the new Jirang Block Office, Patharkhmah Senior Secondary School and Patharkhmah Model Degree College at a programme at Western Ri-Bhoi Football Ground.
The Jirang C&RD Block Office, inaugurated by India women’s football team goalkeeper Ribansi Jamu, will serve as the first point of contact for citizens for schemes, roads, housing, water supply and livelihood works.
The Block Integrated Development Complex (BIDC) foundation was laid on October 27, 2023.
The Chief Minister said block offices across the state, earlier run from rented or dilapidated structures, are being rebuilt into integrated complexes. A Rs 4.5 crore complex for Mawhati Block has been approved.
Of 184 projects of more than Rs 1 crore each in Ri-Bhoi, with a total approved cost of Rs 1,847.38 crore – 14 are complete, 109 are ongoing and 61 have been initiated. Several of these projects serve Western Ri-Bhoi directly, including the Rs 16.58 crore steel truss bridge on the Patharkhmah road, the Rs 3.51 crore approach road to Patharkhmah Model Degree College and the ₹1.26 crore Jirang Primary Health Centre.
“The Mini Secretariat will bring all offices of Patharkhmah Civil Sub-Division under one campus so citizens can finish work in one visit,” Sangma said, adding that buildings alone don’t bring governance closer — officers must serve with empathy.
The Model Degree College, established on May 25, 2022 under RUSA, is the first government degree college in Ri-Bhoi. Built on a 10.09-acre campus, affiliated to Captain Williamson Sangma State University, it offers Arts degrees with 60-seater hostels each for boys and girls. A Rs 3.5 crore, 0.91 km approach road with parking is under construction.
“Colleges should not only be in Shillong, Tura or Jowai. Our youth who had to travel to Nongpoh can now study from school to graduation in Patharkhmah itself,” the Chief Minister said.
C&RD Minister Sosthenes Sohtun, local leaders, SHGs, students and district officials were present.
