Shillong(Meghalaya), Dec 13: The Meghalaya Government continued with its aggressive rural welfare push with the CM Conrad K Sangma today distributing Funds and Livestock to promote sustainable livelihood at Pynursla Division, East Khasi Hills District.
CM disbursed funds amounting to Rs.33.40 Lakhs under ‘FOCUS+’ Farmer’s Welfare Programme impacting 668 producer households. The ‘FOCUS+’ initiative has been designed to provide benefit to all producer households across Meghalaya. It is an extension of Meghalaya’s biggest farmers welfare program ‘FOCUS’ (Farmers Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing System). The two schemes (Focus and Focus+) will provide farming households of Meghalaya a financial advantage of Rs.10,000 per household.
Rs.11.36 Crores was disbursed for the benefit of 950 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and 80 Village Organisations (Vos).
Moreover, under the Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme, ‘PROGRESS’, 2000 piglets (3 females and 1 male each) were distributed to 500 farmer households from East Khasi Hills District. Also, high yielding variety of Kuroiler poultry birds were distributed to 100 beneficiaries. The ‘PROGRESS’ scheme aims at ensuring sustainable livelihood of farmers through different livestock farming activities. This scheme is envisaged to benefit 10,000 marginal farmers as well as increasing pork and poultry production in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Conrad K Sangma said “We are happy to be conducting this funds and livestock distribution programme for the benefit of farmers, self-help groups and village organizations of East Khasi Hills District. Our government has been working tirelessly to uplift the status of farmers across Meghalaya. Our aim is to double their income by providing them more and more avenues of sustainable livelihoods. During the past four and a half years, we have championed several programs on a mission mode to bring about a positive turnaround.”
Plaques of foundation stones were also unveiled for Mini Secretariat Building, C&RD Block Building, Ekalavya Model Residential School and Football Stadium at Wahlyngkhat. Inauguration of Pynursla Division, PWD (Roads).
The programme had Dy. CM, Prestone Tynsong as the Guest of Honour along with Dasakhiatbha Lamare(Minister- PWD, Buildings), Hamletson Dohling (Minister-Community & Rural Development) and Lahkmen Rymbui (Minister- Education).