A one-day special interactive programme on the theme ‘Empowering Rural Communities through Access to Information and Knowledge’ was organized by the office of the Sub-Divisional Public Relations Officer (SDIPRO), Sohra in Meghalaya on Friday at the conference hall of the Office of the Block Development Officer, Laitkroh Khatar Shnong C&RD Block.
The programme was attended by headmen and village members of the 14 villages under Laitkroh Sirdarship.
Gavin M Mylliem, MLA of Sohra constituency was the chief guest on the occasion.
The programme was chaired by Carl Marbaniang, sub-divisional public relations officer, Sohra and had presentations from officers belonging to four departments, namely Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Tourism and Cooperative Societies.
Addressing the gathering, Gavin Mylliem stated that the special interactive programme was a platform which facilitates direct interaction between the government and the people.
He said that the programme was conducted with the objective to educate the participants on the various schemes of the government.
He expressed his gratitude to the resource persons coming from the different departments to inform and guide the people on the various schemes and how to avail them.
He said that such programmes help to bridge the gap between the public and the government especially in terms of communicating various programmes to the general public.
He lamented that many people residing in the far flung corners of the region did not have access to various developmental schemes due to the lack of information.
Therefore, such interactive programmes provide an excellent platform which can address this obstacle and 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 in turn, further educate their fellow neighbours and friends who were unable to attend the programme.