TURA, March 3: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said that a total of Rs 200 crore would be utilised for the development of farming sector in the state covering over 4 lakh households.
The chief minister was speaking during the launch event of the Chief Minister’s Mobilization Support for Producers programme at the Law College ground in New Tura organised by the Meghalaya Basin management Agency (MBMA).
Addressing the gathering at the function, Conrad spoke of the government’s vision and desire to transform the lives of the people at the grassroots level and the current initiative was being taken with an aim to promote the state’s entrepreneurs which would be extended to other sectors in the future.
Pointing out that there are many challenges faced by entrepreneurs, Conrad said that the government was assisting them by providing training, guidance including financial support by presenting them with the Chief Minister’s Recognition awards, Prime Awards, as well as also trying to tie up with different professional organisation to guide them so that they create more value for themselves, for the people of the state and the country as a whole.
Stating that farmers faced many problems in various aspects, the chief minister said that the scheme was aimed at lending support to farmers.
He also informed that as per the scheme, every group consisting of ten members was given a grant of Rs 50,000, while a 20-member group was given Rs 1 lakh. He urged all the farmers to register their groups and cooperate with the organisers for the benefit and progress of the farmer community in the region.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also congratulated two farmers from the state for being awarded the Padma Shri while announcing that Rs 2.5 lakh each from the Chief Minster’s fund will be given to the awardees Nanandro B Marak and Trinity Sailoo.
The chief minister on the same day launched the PRIME Hub at Tura.
Speaking at the programme, Conrad said that the PRIME Hub would act as an incubation centre, meeting centre and centre to create energy among the youth. “We hope that the PRIME Hubs will address most of the issues our entrepreneurs face. Through this, we hope to create an ecosystem to give the push to the entrepreneurs who want to start their own business,” Conrad added.
