The Ri-Bhoi District Administration has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Bongaigaon, to establish STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) laboratories in government schools across the district.

The agreement, signed at the office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner in Nongpoh, comes under NTPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative with a sanctioned financial outlay of ₹148.50 lakh. Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal formalised the MoA in the presence of NTPC officials, including Amit Kumar Asthana, Head of HR, Madhurjya Singha Lahkar, DGM (HR), and Smriti Das, Executive (CSR).

Baranwal expressed gratitude to NTPC for supporting the district’s education initiatives, noting Ri-Bhoi’s designation as an Aspirational District. He explained that while the original proposal envisioned 55 STEM laboratories, the first phase will cover 27 government schools, with the remaining schools to be included later.

Schools were selected based on infrastructure readiness and student enrolment, with only government and government-aided institutions eligible under NTPC guidelines. The project is expected to be completed within six months.

Officials emphasised that the initiative will strengthen science and mathematics education by providing students with hands-on learning opportunities, fostering analytical skills, innovation, and a stronger academic foundation.