From Our Special Correspondent
Centre, IFAD sign credit agreement
New Delhi: The Central government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Tuesday signed an agreement for a $50 million credit for the Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Markets Projects (Megha-LAMP) for providing livelihood in the Hill State.
The objective of the project is to adapt expanded and sustainable livelihood opportunities to the hill environment and to the effects of climate change.
The project size is of $169.7 million of which $50.00 million will come in the form of IFAD credit.
The remaining amount will be mobilised through State Government contributions, commercial Banks, complementary government programmes and participating households.
It is expected to benefit more than 147,000 households, comprising about 827,000 people.
This is second externally aided project for Meghalaya this year. Another project agreement with ADB was signed in January.
Expressing happiness over the signing of this agreement, Meghalaya Chief Minister MukulSangma in a statement said, “This is a part of our overall strategy to mop up additional resources to upscale our interventions under IBDLP so as to pave the way for better livelihood opportunities for people particularly for women and youth.”
Tarun Bajaj, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Nigel Brett, Country Programme Manager, IFAD and R.M. Mishra, Principal Secretary, Planning Department, on behalf of Government of Meghalaya signed the agreement.
The overall approach and strategy of the project is in alignment with the State’s flagship programme, the Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP). The project has four components namely: natural resources and food security, livelihood support, knowledge services and project management.
It will cover the entire State through the Enterprise Facilitation Centres (EFCs) in all 39 blocks, supporting around 47,400 enterprises.
A total of 54 clusters for development of marketable products will be established in 18 blocks with about 75 villages in each block, making a total of 1350 villages with a total outreach of about 1.47 lakh households.
The project will also ensure the participation of women and poorer households in the villages.