‘State has to upscale rural living condition’

Meghalaya minister for Community and Rural Development Prestone Tynsong speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day workshop on Sustainable Rural Housing Technologies at State Convention Centre on Wednesday

SHILLONG, FEB 18: Meghalaya Community and Rural Development minister Prestone Tynsong said the state needs to upgrade and upscale the living conditions of the rural people and provide holistic development especially in rural areas. Pointing at the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, he informed that the state has performed well in the implementation of these schemes in the state.

Inaugurated the two-day workshop on Sustainable Rural Housing Technologies on Wednesday at State Convention Centre, Shillong, organized by the state Community and Rural Development (C&RD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Tynsong urged the Ministry of Rural Development to take into consideration the different topographical situation of the state while designing rural housing.

Tynsong also highlighted the importance of rural housing technologies and to come up with resolutions for the overall improvement and development of rural areas.

Union Ministry of Rural Development joint secretary R Sadhanandan, while sharing insights of rural housing technology, said that the scheme Indira Awaas Yojana is meant to reduce the shortage of housing among rural poor. Therefore, he called upon the representatives of the department to document the traditional and modern technologies and recommend better technique which can provide cost effective technologies and adequate sanitary facilities for this rural housing.

Others who spoke during the programme includes Sashi Sudhir, Programme Analyst, United Nations Development Programme and. Gayatri Ratnam from Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO).

Meghalaya C&RD principal secretary KN Kumar , Dr. B D R Tiwari, additional secretary, (C&RD), Block Development Officers, project directors and representatives from all blocks of the districts attended the workshop.

Earlier in the programme, Akash Deep, Director, C& RD welcomed the gathering while BS Rumnong, deputy director, State Institute of Rural Development proposed the vote of thanks.- By Our Reporter