Williamnagar: As part of its initiative of promoting rural entrepreneurship, the State Government has conceived a scheme of Rural Entrepreneurship Centres to be set up in different blocks across the State.
The first of such centres will be set up in Nangapa under Songsak C&RD Block in East Garo Hills for which Chief Minister Mukul Sangma laid the foundation stone in the presence of Minister for School Literacy and Education Deborah C. Marak on Friday.
The function for unveiling the foundation stone was organised by the Department of Commerce & Industries in the premises of St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Chidimit, which was also attended by Parliamentary Secretaries Cherak W. Momin, Brigady Marak and Marthon J. Sangma, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner H.B. Marak, Nokmas and local leaders, officials from MIDC and DCIC, other district officials, principal, teachers and students of the school and a large number of people from the area.
The main objective of this scheme is to provide farmers and rural entrepreneurs with necessary industrial and social infrastructure to attract entrepreneurs for starting up various small scale industries.
The centre will include facilities like industrial shed, common facility centre, labour shed, crèche for women entrepreneurs, guard’s quarter and toilets for workers among others with a total project cost of Rs.305.79 lakh.
Speaking on the programme the Chief Minister said that the Rural Entrepreneurship Centre will be the first of its kind in the whole country, adding that the scheme was conceived to “empower our people and make them capable of becoming big entrepreneurs at par with other businessmen of the country.”
Sangma also informed the gathering about the Incubation centres that would be set up across the State.
Indicating that the pace of development has picked up in the recent times, he highlighted a number of projects that are progressing fast including the construction of PMGSY roads and informed that the government has already approved 181 roads across the State to be funded by World Bank.
The Chief Minister while lauding the meritorious students said “The story of St. Joseph’s School can be scripted as a success story in the midst of adversity.” He placed on record his deep sense of gratitude to the school for providing quality education in one of the most backward areas of the State. According its Principal, Fr. Salnesh K. Marak, the school till date had not received any grant from the government and therefore could not provide free education to the poor students of the area. He also submitted a memorandum on the occasion to the Chief Minister and Education Minister Deborah Marak seeking government intervention to the requirements of the school. In response, the Chief Minister assured that the government would provide up to Rs. 1 crore for construction of hostel from Rural Hostels for students scheme.
