By Aafaque Hussain
SAMANDA : The citizens of Garo Hills region particularly East Garo Hills has suffered beyond measures in recent past due to long vexed issue of militancy but the region is now slowly but surely progressing towards a peaceful life with intervention from different government and private organisations by way of providing a sustained livelihood to the people.
On Tuesday, the Samanda Development Organisation which would provide assistance to farmers in terms of agriculture and Horticulture sector was inaugurated at Samanda.
The initiative of forming the organisation was taken by Bakdil, a catholic missionary organisation which is actively working in Garo Hills.
The local MLA and Cabinet Minister, Deborah Marak said that the region, especially rural areas have suffered a lot due to militancy but now attempts are being made to provide a better living condition to the people especially the farmers and missionary organisations like Bakdil and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)are playing a pivotal role in this regard.
She added that the initiatives which are being taken by all concerned will definitely improve the livelihood of the people as different self help groups are being created and farmers are being asked to focus on farming activity.
The local MLA even donated a vehicle to the organisation for the transportation of their produces from the villages to the markets.
Echoing similar views, Fr Sunny Joseph, director of Bakdil and reputed citizen from Garo Hills who is making his bid to transform the life of farmers recalled that there was a time between the year 2011-2015 when there was continuous killings, murders and extortion in the region and the whole economy was affected.
“Farmers during that time could not bring their products from villages to markets as traders were kidnapped but things have changed and people are no longer afraid thanks to the mass movement launched by the churches asking the insurgents to come overground and even the state government came out strongly against the militants”.
According to Fr Joseph, under the programme, they are promoting plantation of fruits and vegetables besides ensuring that people are mobilised on their own and not dependent on government schemes.
Terming Garo Hills as a gold mine, he asserted that there are numerous livelihood initiatives in Garo Hills and if proper guidance and marketing opportunity is given to people, they can become self reliant in 5-6 years.
S Devi, the district development manager of NABARD said that that they are facilitating development of 12 villages under Samanda block and people would plant litchi and mango for the next 5-6 years which would provide them a way to earn.
In addition, different self help groups and farmers’ clubs are also being created and programmes are being implemented on convergence mode.
