SHILLONG, Dec 1: After keeping a low profile since the Mukroh incident, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is finally back in business.
On Thursday, the CM inaugurated a Civil Sub Division, a C&RD Block and Prime Hub-cum-head office of a cooperative society in separate programmes held in West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
CM Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the Dalu Civil Sub Division in West Garo Hills district in the presence of local MLA Brening A Sangma.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said the inauguration of Dalu Civil Sub Division is a culmination of a long-cherished dream of the people living in this area as he recollected his late father Purno Agitok Sangma, who did his early education from a missionary school in Dalu.
Conrad told the gathering that his father had a close affinity for the people of Dalu and would always express his concerns and his desire to better their lives.
Continuing his address, he told the gathering that the government has embarked on a mission to ensure that government services are delivered and brought to the doorstep of the public. “The creation of new blocks and civil sub-divisions across the state is to enable people to receive the benefit of the government services in a faster and efficient manner,” the CM said.
In South West Garo Hills, the CM inaugurated the newly created Purakhasia C&RD Block at Chongnapara.
Local MLA Winnerson D Sangma, Co-Chairman, State Planning Board, Ian Botham K Sangma and a host of other dignitaries and district administration officials were present during the inaugural programme.
Before, the creation of the Block, the people of Purakhasia area, which earlier was under Dalu C&RD Block in West Garo Hills, had to face several difficulties as they had to travel for over an hour to reach the district headquarter even if it was for a minor work.
Addressing the gathering in Purakhasia, the CM said there are more than 6,000 villages and localities in the state which makes it difficult for the government to ensure that all developmental works reach each and every village.
With this, he said, there is a need to create more C&RD blocks, sub-divisions and administrative units so as to bring administration closer to the public.
Earlier, the CM handed over the Governor’s notification for creation of Purakhasia Block to the district administration of South West Garo Hills represented by ADC AVD Shira after it was read out by the Joint Secretary, C&RD department, SR Marak.
Later, Conrad also distributed FOCUS Plus cards to beneficiaries, piglets and chicks under PROGRESS to self help groups and hybrid seeds to farmers under MeghaLAMP project funded by IFAD.
PRIME Hub inaugurated
He also inaugurated the newly constructed Prime Hub-cum-head office of the All Garo Hills Multipurpose Cooperative Society (AGHMCS) Ltd at Babadam under Rongram C&RD Block.
Inaugurating the much-awaited office of the cooperative society, the chief minister recalled the tireless efforts of Fr. Sunny Mavellil, whose role was instrumental in forming the AGHMCS with a vision to uplift the standards of the farmers in Garo Hills region, while lauding him for completing the construction within a year. The foundation stone for the project was laid on December 20 last year.
Maintaining that challenges in ushering in development and changes persist, the CM said there is potential too in Garo Hills which needs cooperative movement to be tapped.
Talking about the commitment of the government to provide the necessary help, Conrad said his government launched FOCUS and FOCUS Plus to implement programmes and policies for the welfare of the farmers.
Delivering the welcome address, Fr. Sunny Mavellil said the government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 3.30 crore for the construction of the office and another Rs 3.65 crore is being sanctioned to the AGHMCS for construction of different processing units for ginger, cashew, black pepper, etc. He added that so far 30 cooperative societies have been formed in Garo Hills.
On the day, the chief minister also distributed cheques to various producer groups of Garo Hills under FOCUS initiative.
Other who were present during the programme include Chief Adviser to the CM, Thomas A Sangma, Secretary of AGHMCS and the Director of Bakdil NGO, Fr. Sunny Mavellil, Rongram BDO, MR Marak, Parish priests, Nokmas and other dignitaries.
