6 October
A community centre was opened at the Ngathaingchaung Information and Public Relations Departm ent, Pathein District, in Ayeyawady Region yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Ayeyawady Region Chief Minister U Hla Moe Aung, Region Hluttaw Speaker U Aung Kyaw Khaing, Region Chief Judge U Than Tun, Region ministers, representatives from Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw and Region Hluttaw, departmental officials, civil society organizations, town elders, local populace, Kayin traditional culture troupe and students.
First, the opening ceremony was held in front of the library and Yekyi Township Ngathaingchaung Town Information and Public Relations Department office and the new building was opened by Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Ayeyawady Region Chief Minister U Hla Moe Aung, Region Hluttaw Speaker U Aung Kyaw Khaing, Region minister for development affairs U Kyaw Myint, Yekyi Township Pyithu Hluttaw representative Dr San Shwe Win, IPRD Director General U Ye Naing and building donor Daw Khin Win of Nano to Giga Steel Co., Ltd. cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
Next, the Union Minister, Region Chief Minister and party inspected the mini museum, computer training room and library inside the Community Centre and presented toys and books to children in the children’s reading room.
The second part of the opening ceremony was then held where Union Minister Dr Pe Myint delivered an opening remark. The Union Minister said the ministry was publishing newspapers and conducting broadcasting works to inform the people. IPRD office and libraries were opened in every township to directly engage with the people. Now these were upgraded to Community Centres to interact with the people.
Community Centres were established for individuals to raise their personal matters as well as for the community to discuss community matters and other matters of interest. As Community Centres were being established all over the world in other countries, it was believed that every town and village in the country also needs to have one and thus was being opened. A democracy system requires a place where people can participate in and discuss the country’s affairs.
The aim was for the Community Centre to become a place where this was conducted to instill this practice in the people. Furthermore, Public Talks were held all over the country and to date more than 2,000 events were held.
Collective efforts must be made toward conducting earnest talk circles where people participate.
Arrangements were made for children to pick up the habit of reading by including a reading room for children in the Community Centre. The aim was for citizens to acquire the habit of reading, to distribute and have full knowledge. A small museum was also included to acquire the habit of collecting, maintaining and exhibiting matters of value.
In conclusion, the Union Minister thanked the donors who donated toward the establishment of Ngathaingchaung Town Community Centre and urges toward the long term existence of it.
Next, Ayeyawady Region Chief Minister U Hla Moe Aung said the day saw the establishment of a knowledge bank or a beautiful garden for the Region.
The government was working for the benefit of the people according to the slogan “together with the people.” The Region government established contacts with two local companies to donate for the establishment of the Community Centre while the Region government itself participated and provided donations.
This was a historical milestone of the government and the people doing things in a balanced way for the benefit of the people. In other words, this was implementing toward creating good human resources.
The Region Minister added that the Region government conducted a children literary festival last year and arrangements were made to hold children literary festivals in all the 26 townships of the region starting from November. The Chief Minister concluded with a hope of using the Community Centre for the benefit of self, the people, Region and to create good sons and daughters who’ll benefit the region.
Afterwards, on behalf of the donors, Nano to Giga Steel Co., Ltd. director U Aung Zaw Oo explained about the reason for donating the two-story Ngathaingchaung Town Community Centre.
Next, Union Minister Dr Pe Myint and Region Chief Minister U Hla Moe Aung presented document of honor to the donors.
This was followed by Ngathingchaung Town elder U Aung Soe Myint delivering a word of thanks for upgrading and opening of the Community Centre.
The ceremony came to a close after Union Minister Dr Pe Myint, Region Chief Minister U Hla Moe Aung, Region Hluttaw Speaker U Aung Kyaw Khaing, Region ministers, donors, ceremony attendees and local traditional culture troupe took a commemorative group photo.
State fund K 5,395,300 was used in upgrading the Ayeyawady Region, Pathein District, Ngathaingchaung Town IPRD office/library. Nano to Giga Steel Co., Ltd. donated K 36,118,000 two-story building in the office compound. Books and other accessories for the children’s reading room and two air conditioners at a total cost of K 2,500,000 were donated by U Soe Nyan Lin of Myanma Kyae Sin Lin Press, Yangon. 5 sets of computers, furniture and two air conditioners at a total cost of K 7,948,000 were donated by Aya Myanmar General Insurance Company Limited (AMI). 3 sets of computers and related accessories worth K 2,953,500 were donated by Max Energy Co., Ltd.
Ministry of Information was transforming and upgrading IPRD district and township libraries into community centre with government fund, BOT system, state/region government fund, Hluttaw fund and donations of donors including Daw Khin Kyi Foundation it is learnt.
Regional IPRD (Translated by Zaw Min)
