Shillong, July 27: Sohra MLA, Gavin M. Mylliem on Friday lamented the fact that many people residing in far flung areas of the state do not access to various developmental schemes due to lack of information.

Delivering his address at the one-day special interactive programme on the theme “Empowering Rural Communities through Access to Information and Knowledge,” the Sohra MLA, stated that the special interactive programme was a platform which facilitated direct interaction between the government and the people.

The programme was organized by the office of the Sub-Divisional Public Relations Officer, Sohra at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Block Development Officer, Laitkroh Khatar Shnong C&RD Block, which was attended by headmen and village members of 14 villages under Laitkroh Sirdarship.

The programme was chaired by Carl Marbaniang, Sub-Divisional Public Relations Officer, Sohra and officers from departments like Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Tourism and Cooperative Societies gave their presentations.

Stating that the programme was conducted with the objective to educate the people on various schemes of the government, Mylliem expressed his gratitude to the resource persons from different departments who enlightened and guided the rural people on various schemes and how to avail them. “This programme helps to bridge the gap between the public and the government especially in terms of communicating various programmes to the general public.”

Lamenting the fact that many people residing in far flung areas do not access to various developmental schemes due to lack of information, the Sohra MLA said that such interactive programmes provide an excellent platform which can address this obstacle and ensure overall uplift and empower the rural communities with accurate and correct information which also provides for easier accessibility to various schemes.

He urged the people present to carry the valuable knowledge obtained from the programme and to in turn, further educate their fellow neighbours and friends who were unable to attend the programme. In conclusion, he encouraged the Department of Information and Public Relations to continue in their efforts of conducting such programmes in the constituency which will go a long way in developing a positive relationship between the government machinery and the people.

Earlier in the programme, L. Kynjing, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Sohra Civil Sub-division, urged the participants to take part in the programme and utilise the knowledge gained from the information given by the Officers of the different Departments present.

He encouraged them to also actively participate in the interactive session whereby they can pose questions to the different Officers present on the various schemes and to clear their doubts, if any, with regards to the schemes being presented.

Delivering the keynote address, R. Nongkhlaw, Deputy Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, informed the gathering that the programme is an innovative grassroots awareness campaign under DIPR, Shillong involving direct interaction between community and officials of various departments.

In the context of intense implementation of different programmes, the office has been organizing Special Interactive Programmes in different villages in the state.

Resource persons from different development departments participated in such programmes, wherein they informed and highlighted different schemes and programmes that are available with their respective departments in the interest of the rural people.

Later in the session, officers from the four departments – Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Tourism and Cooperative Societies explained about various schemes available under their respective department followed by a fruitful interactive session, which saw an enthusiastic participation and lively discussions between members of the audience and the officers.