Base for five Eklavya Schools in Garo Hills laid digitally by PM Modi
Tura, Oct 2: In one of the biggest moves by the central government to start residential schools and provide much needed quality education in the region, foundation stones for as many as five Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Garo Hills were digitally laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a country-wide event on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.
South Garo Hills district- one of the most interior and backward regions of the state, was the biggest gainer of the Prime Minister’s project as foundations were laid for the Eklavya schools at Baghmara, Gasuapara and Chokpot.
Two other regions, besides the south, to be selected for these residential schools were South West and North Garo Hills Districts. Jelbongpara village under Betasing Block in South West and Radi village under Resubelpara block in North Garo Hills also had foundations laid for Eklavya schools.
Meghalaya has been gifted with a total of nine Eklavya model schools.
Deemed a historic event for education in the southern region, the foundation stone laying ceremony in virtual mode was organised at the Baghmara Sports Office Playground.
Chokpot MLA Sengchim Sangma, GHADC CEM Albenuish R Marak and MDCs Natawal Marak and Sengbat R Marak MDC Silkigre and Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills R.Yanthan, IAS, were among a host of dignitaries who attended a special programme to witness the virtual launch and address crowds that gathered for the event.
Speaking at the virtual launch event, Chokpot legislator Sengchim N Sangma hailed Prime Minister Modi and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for giving four numbers of Eklavya Model Residencial Schools to Garo Hills, particularly distant South Garo Hills that gets the biggest number.
“Eklavya Model Residential Schools are Government of India schemes taken up by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide quality Education to scheduled tribe children residing in remote areas so that they can benefit from higher educational courses. South Garo Hills being the remotest District of the state will be highly benefited by this project as these Eklavya schools won’t just focus solely on academics but also on sports and extracurricular activities, in other words the overall development of students,” said MLA Sengchim Sangma.
GHADC CEM Albenush R Marak spoke at length about the importance of setting up these schools in the southern district which is way behind other districts due to absence of adequate schools in the higher level.
At Jelbongpara in South West Garo Hills district, a host of district and block officials, including the Nokma of Jelbongpara, witnessed the virtual laying of the school base.
