Shillong, Sept 28: Meghalaya has geared up on all fronts to complete all infrastructure and logistics required to host the 27th National Games to be held in next six months.
As part of the exercise, the Estimates Committee of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Monday reviewed the preparedness with the Sports and Youth Affairs department.
“Infrastructure has been prepared in various locations – Shillong, Tura, Jowai and in few areas of East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi where other disciplines will take place. Athletes are also being prepared,” said Mayralborn Syiem, chairman of the committee after being briefed by the department on its preparedness for the mega event.
Syiem admitted that accommodation, transport and logistics remain a challenge but said the committee is optimistic after the briefing.
“I hope all infrastructure will be completed in due course of time. We still have another six months,” the BJP legislator from Nongpoh said.
The Games will feature 39 disciplines, with Meghalaya as the main host and other Northeastern states hosting at least one discipline each.
Terming the event as a great exposure for Meghalaya’s athletes, he said, “We are optimistic that our young athletes, both boys and girls, will have proper avenues given the financial implications the state has already pumped in.”
“The Chief Minister and Sports Minister are very keen to ensure proper diet, training and coaches from within and outside the country so that we can bring laurels to the state by winning gold, silver and bronze medals,” he said.
Call to complete polytechnics sanctioned in 2009
The committee, during another review with Education department, observed that three polytechnic institutes sanctioned by the Centre in 2009 are yet to be completed.
One of the polytechnics in South Garo Hills still lagging at just 64-65 per cent progress.
“We took up issues regarding the three polytechnics – one at Nongkrah, Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi, one at Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills and one at Gasuapara in South Garo Hills,” Syiem said.
He said the projects were sanctioned by the then Ministry of Human Resource Development, now Ministry of Education, but civil work has so far been completed only for the administrative block and a few classrooms.
“We followed up this matter because the sanctioned amount has been released. We reviewed both physical and financial progress,” he said.
According to Syiem, the Nongpoh and Nongstoin polytechnics are almost ready.
“The polytechnics in Nongpoh and Nongstoin are well in advance and almost 100 per cent complete. PWD (Building) will hand them over to the Education department, which will now move for other components like water supply, power supply and sanction of posts. The proposal has been moved to Planning and Finance for approval,” he said.
On the inordinate delay in Gasuapara, Syiem said the department has been directed to expedite the work.
“The civil work in Gasuapara is a little behind schedule with only 64-65 percent completed. We have instructed the department to expedite it for the benefit of the students,” he said.
Asked about reasons for the delay, he said, “They informed us there are multiple challenges, firstly due to land issues, that is why work could not take place at the initial stages.”
Employment of ITI pass-outs
In another review with Labour department, the committee asked the department to ensure placement of students passing out from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
The committee reviewed the status of ITIs located in Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Williamnagar, Nongpoh, Ampati, Khliehriat, Mawkyrwat and other places.
“We have instructed the department that after students join ITIs and graduate, the main issue is placement,” Syiem said.
“We have instructed the Labour department to explore the possibility of signing MoUs with various agencies for placement,” he added.
On government’s initiatives to solve unemployment problem, he said, “Support being given by the state government to entrepreneurs through programmes like CM-Elevate, PRIME etc. It is a culmination of efforts of all departments and will ultimately help address unemployment.”
