Silverine Swer Biography 
Silverine Swer was the first Padma Shri awardee from Meghalaya. She was the oldest voter who died at the age of 103 on Saturday, February 1st 2014 following a brief illness. She was born on 12 November 1910. She was awarded with the medal of Kaisar-i-Hind by the government for her efficiency and integrity, for her handling of the rationing system and for service to the Guides movement in Assam. She was awarded Padma Shree in the year 1990. Patogan Sangma Award for social service, Silver Elephant Medal of the Bharat Scout & Guides Award and RG Buruah Smriti Rakhya Samiti award are the other major awards received by her. She was fondly known as Kong Sil.
She was born on November 12, 1910 in Christian tribal family, Meghalaya. She graduated from Scottish Church College, Kolkata in the year 1932. She was the first Khasi woman to become the Trainer and Adviser of the Girls Guide Movement and she had a long term association with it until her last days. She was the oldest voter from Meghalaya who has witnessed the two World Wars, the Sino-Indian War and the Bangladesh Liberation War involving India. She was appointed as the Assistant Controller of Rationing during the World War II under Assam government during the period 1944-1949.
She worked as faculty in Teacher Training Institute at Changlang Tirap and retired from the institute as Principal in 1968. She was the Chief Social Education Organizer in Arunachal Pradesh for 15 years. After retirement, she was closely associated with several women voluntary social welfare organizations and educational institutions. Chairman of the State Social Welfare Advisory Board, State Commissioner (Guides), Chairperson of the International Year for Women, and Adviser of several bodies are the major positions held by her.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 17, 2014
