TURA, Dec 5: Eyeing upcoming 2023 Assembly elections, the Meghalaya government continued with its aggressive rural welfare push with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday distributing funds amounting to Rs 30 crore under FOCUS+ programme at Jengjal, West Garo Hills, which is the largest-ever Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Meghalaya.
According to a government statement here, Rs 30 crore has been directly transferred to 60,000 producer households under the FOCUS +.
The FOCUS+ has been designed to provide benefits to producer groups across Meghalaya. It is an extension of Meghalaya’s biggest farmers welfare programme FOCUS. The two schemes provide a financial advantage of Rs 10,000 per household.
Speaking on occasion, the chief minister said, “Welfare of farmers has always been a priority of our government. I am glad to share that several farmers have benefited through FOCUS scheme. We will keep supporting you through such innovative schemes. Our dream and vision is to ensure that FOCUS and FOCUS+ programmes continue every year. If we transfer Rs 450 crore every year into the most economically weaker section of our society and keep transferring this amount every year, in a matter of 10 years, an amount of Rs 4,500 crore will be infused into the economy. Then imagine the cash flow that would be available to the farmers. Today, we have transferred Rs 30 crore to 60,000 households. Our target is 4.5 lakh producer households.”
Moreover, 11 VPICs of Rongram received Rs. 1.48 crore under Meglife Project for construction of community hall and nine SHGs received a sum of Rs.11 lakh.
Under the Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme PROGRESS, 2,000 piglets were distributed among 500 farmers.
The PROGRESS scheme aims at ensuring sustainable livelihood of farmers through different livestock farming activities. This scheme is envisaged to benefit 10,000 farmers as well as increase pork and poultry production in the state.
Also, high-yielding variety of Kuroiler poultry birds was distributed to 100 beneficiaries.
The chief minister also wished the farmers on Meghalaya Farmers’ Day and reiterated that these funds which are being transferred to the producer households are not loans but grants.
