Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma laid the foundation stone for a new Mini Secretariat in Patharkhmah on Monday. The facility will house all sub-divisional offices under one roof to streamline public services. The ceremony took place at the Western Ri-Bhoi Football Ground alongside Secretariat Administration Minister Sosthenes Sohtun. Sangma expects the hub to save citizens from running between various departments. "A citizen can complete related work in one visit instead of travelling between offices," Sangma said.
The government also opened the new Jirang C&RD Block Office, a new building for Patharkhmah Senior Secondary School, and the campus of Patharkhmah Model Degree College. Indian women's national team footballer Ribansi Jamu inaugurated the block office. The Jirang C&RD Block, established on 24 March 2001, handles critical local services like housing, water, and rural roads. The foundation stone for this integrated complex was laid on 27 October 2023. Officials plan to replace aging, rented offices with similar modern complexes across the state.
Ri-Bhoi district is currently pushing 184 projects worth over 1,847.38 crore rupees. Of these, 14 are finished, 109 are in progress, and 61 are just starting. Recent regional infrastructure includes a 16.58 crore steel truss bridge, a 3.51 crore approach road, and the 1.26 crore Jirang Primary Health Centre. Additionally, the government approved 4.50 crore for a new Mawhati C&RD Block complex.
Patharkhmah Model Degree College, the first government degree institution in Ri-Bhoi, opened its doors on 25 May 2022 under RUSA. It sits on a 10.09-acre site, maintains affiliation with Captain Williamson Sangma State University, and provides arts courses. The campus includes separate hostels for 60 boys and 60 girls. Students previously traveled to Nongpoh, Shillong, or Guwahati for higher education. Sangma noted that the concentration of new facilities allows local youth to complete their education without leaving the area.
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