AMPATI: Fourteen villages under Zikzak Block in South West Garo Hills came forward to submit their consent letter to chief minister Mukul Sangma to be a part of ‘My Village Model Village’ which was launched at Garagre UP School Playground on Friday.
These villages also took ‘My Village Model Village’ pledge before the Chief Minister and lit candles as a symbol of their commitment to the cause.
Facilitated by Bakdil NGO, Tura and supported by the district administration of South West Garo Hills, the Model Village programme, based on a sustainable development model, is a result of a thought process based on the interventions on one hand and possibilities on the other, to empower the communities by addressing the critical gaps in convergence with line departments and other government agencies through increased community participation.
The concept envisions making one village level institution as the convergent point of all developmental programmes and stakeholders involved in the life of the village.
The 14 villages that gave the consent letter to be a part of this programme are Garagre, Digligre, Aruagre, Boldorenggre, Diglakona Bolchugre, Tewaligre, Pagolpara, Balughat-B, Lower Banangpara, Simlakona, Bollonggre-B1, Agonggittim and Denggnagre, where Bakdil has been working actively and MGNREGS programme is well implemented and all the women of these villages have been organised into self-help groups and opened bank accounts.
Bakdil would continue to handhold these villages for the next six years with plans are afoot to develop allied activities through bank loans.
Besides the Chief Minister, local MLA of Mahendraganj and Chairperson, Meghalaya Resources and Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira, Bishop of Tura and president, Bakdil Rt. Rev. Andrew Marak, Deputy Commissioner, Cyril Darlong Diengdoh, ADC & PD, DRDA, Ampati, HDB Sangma, officials of various line departments, nokmas and local leaders were also present during the launch of the programme.
