Shillong, Aug 16: In the eight years that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has been in charge, all of its initiatives have been done with the public’s wellbeing in mind, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said during his Independence Day speech here yesterday.
In the state capital, the celebration was held at Polo Ground, where Sangma hoisted the national flag and took the Rashtriya Salute of the different marching contingents.
The CM also presented the District Award of Excellence to James Dean Marbaniang, Superintendent, District Prison & Correctional Home, Shillong, Reviewlet Kylla, Outreach Worker and Sophiality Marbaniang, DEO of Child Welfare Committee, Office of the District Child Protection Officer, District Child Protection Unit, East Khasi Hills. An award was also presented to Sohiong C&RD Block for the construction of a footpath cum view point at Domkopher Mawdngung VEC.
Awards of appreciation were presented to Col Vinay Kumar, Director Army Recruiting Office, Shillong, 93-year-old Naik (retd) Jedro Thabah, who was enrolled in the Indian Army in the 5th Battalion of the Assam Regiment on October 21, 1951 and 93-year-old Col (retd) Memorialda Nongsiej, who was commissioned into Military Nursing Service on June 26, 1974.
Other highlights of the day include a cultural programme presented by Synod Hr. Secondary School, Mary Mount School and BSF Hr. Secondary School.
Police Medal for Meritorious Service to HG Lyngdoh, Commandant 1st MLP Bn., Mawiong, Abraham T Sangma, SP, West Garo Hills and Kmenlang Suting, Havildar, 3rd MLP Bn., and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) to Lathindro D. Sangma, Havildar of Civil Defence and Home Guards Department were also announced during the day.
In his 11-page speech, Sangma focused on what he held to be success stories of his government, saying that, “in these eight years, every mission we launched, every road we made, every scheme we started, has been built around three foundations that hold any society together – protecting and preserving our land, empowering our people, and upholding our culture.”
Some of the initiatives that he mentioned, while providing examples of the success stories linked with them, included those relating to crop insurance, tourism guesthouse support, tourist taxi support, government jobs for successful athletes, payments for maintaining tree cover, water supply and road projects.
