Rangatari(Meghalaya), Nov 17 : Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that the Government through different interventions and programmes is working to bring a turnaround in the lives of the people.
He made the remark while addressing a gathering of beneficiaries of FOCUS plus, PROGRESS, Yess Meghalaya and SHGs at Rangatari in South West Garo Hills. “Our Government has remained committed to the welfare of the farming communities and through Focus and other schemes we are trying to provide maximum support to them,” the Chief Minister said.
“Our farmers welfare programme has benefited 4.5 lakh people. In the previous Government there were no such programmes for the welfare of the farmers,” he informed, while the present Government has launched several initiatives that directly benefit the farmers.
Informing that Focus and Focus plus are the biggest farmers welfare programme in the whole of Northeast, the Chief Minister said, “Cash benefit of ₹5000 to each individual in every household for next 10 years is our target and we are committed to ensure this”. On misinformation being spread by sections that focus funds are loans, the Chief Minister said, “Focus funds were not loans but financial support to the farmers of the State”.
The Chief Minister told the gathering that ₹450 cr has been earmarked for implementation of Focus programme in the State. He also informed that till date close to ₹150 cr has already been disbursed under Focus and Focus plus programme across the State.
“The success of the programme will depend on you,” he said while exhorting the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for the needs of the group. Terming Focus as an “unique programme” that is directly benefiting the farmers, the Chief Minister said that vested interest should not politicize this programme.
“This will bring a transformation and revolution in the lives of the people. This programme is to bring welfare and benefits to our people,” he added.
During the programme, 793 individual producers of Rangatari, South West Garo Hills received the financial benefit of ₹7.93 Lakhs through FOCUS+. 400 pig farmers received piglets and 70 poultry farmers received kuroiler poultry birds through the Rural Livestock Piggery & Poultry scheme ‘PROGRESS’.
