By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has suggested on the need to formulate a Farmer’s Policy to cater to the interest of the farming community in the State.
“This policy is a long felt need of a large chunk population in the rural areas who are depending on agricultural activities for their livelihood,” Basaiawmoit said while participating in the amendment motion on the Governor Address in the Assembly on Monday.
He also urged upon the Government to come up with a mechanism where farmers are not exploited by the middlemen in the open market.
While pointing out that the Government has laid emphasis on increasing the production of rice, he however felt that the Government should also give due importance on the production of other important vegetables like potatoes, cabbage and cauliflower which are commonly grown in Nongkrem and Mylliem areas.
He also urged the Government to adopt similar policies like in Gujarat in the export of vegetables grown in the State to Europe and other parts of the globe.
“We can also think in terms of exporting our vegetable produce outside the country,” Basaiawmoit said.
Meanwhile, he urged the Government to have a relook on the new ‘Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2012.
“The Government has passed the policy without taking the views of the concerned stakeholders and the public at large,” he said while pointing that the policy was very critical since it concerned with the industrial growth in the country.
The HSPDP legislator also raised concern over the pathetic condition of the health sector in the State.
According to Basaiawmoit, the Mother Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of the State is higher than the national average. “This issue requires an immediate attention of the Government. We cannot afford to see our mother and children lost their precious life in this manner,” he said.
On the issue of unemployment, he said that this unemployment problem has gone up to 70 percent in the State.
“The growth in unemployment rate is a result of the failure on the part of the Government to create job opportunities and avenues for the youth of the State,” HSPDP legislator said.
Basaiawmoit also said that the Congress has made tall promises of creating 10,000 jobs in the Government while another 1 lakh jobs in the non-Government sector.
