Sangma launches farmers' welfare scheme

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said that NPP-led MDA Government has launched an innovative inclusive farmers' welfare programme - FOCUS - that will benefit over 4.5 lakh farmers in the State. He said that the programme was conceptualised by the State Government taking into consideration the economic hardship that the farming community had to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that through this programme the farmers are grouped together as farmers collective 'Producers Groups' and financial assistance of Rs 5000 is provided to each member in the group.

He said that the funds can be used as seed money for scaling up farming activities.

An estimated Rs. 200 crore has been earmarked for this inclusive farmers programme. In the last three months, the Chief Minister has visited several districts and blocks in the State.

In the FOCUS program at Chokpot on Friday, the Chief Minister distributed cheques amounting to Rs 1.2 crore to 170 producer groups to upgrade their farming and entrepreneurial activities.

The Chief Minister also attended the SHG Mela at the same venue and extended financial assistance worth Rs 1.001 crore to 29 village organizations and SHGs. He stated that the MDA Government is happy to support the women-led SHG movement that is empowering enterprising women at the grass-root level.

He further said that the Government has introduced various funding options to encourage entrepreneurial activities, wherein interest-free loans are being provided to the people. He urged the public to take advantage of the welfare initiatives launched by the Govt and motivated people to form self help groups and cooperative societies to avail the benefits of the schemes.

He said that Government's welfare programmes are targeted for overall improvement in farming activities, farmers' sustainable income, marketing linkages and ensures that Agri and Horti products of the State are promoted and marketed for optimum benefits.

He also announced that over Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for various infrastructure development projects in Chokpot area of South Garo Hills, including Chokpot Water Supply, a guest house, a new civil sub-division building and a road from 12th mile to Chokpot. Cooking stoves under the CSR initiative of the Global Himalayan Expedition were also distributed to beneficiaries at the program.

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