Conrad makes ‘second largest’ DBT under FOCUS+ scheme

SHILLONG, Dec 21: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday distributed funds to the tune of Rs 11.75 crore to nearly 23,500 beneficiaries from across the state under the FOCUS+ programme for farmers, in what is being dubbed as the second largest direct benefit transfer.
This transpired during a programme in West Garo Hills, where the CM inaugurated the new Batabari C&RD Block in the presence of Rajabala MLA Abdus Saleh.
He also disbursed funds amounting to Rs 1.41 crore under FOCUS+ impacting 2,822 producer households in Batabari, Rajabala Division.
The FOCUS+, an extension of Meghalaya’s ‘biggest’ farmers’ welfare programme ‘FOCUS’ (Farmers Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing System) has been designed to provide benefit to all producer households across Meghalaya.
The two schemes aim to provide farming households of Meghalaya a financial advantage of Rs 10,000 per household.
At the same function, the CM along with the dignitaries unveiled the plaque and inaugurated the veterinary dispensary at Bhaitbari (Rajpur) in West Garo Hills.
The veterinary dispensary has been constructed under NABARD at an estimated cost of Rs 90.4 lakh.
Meanwhile, under the Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme, ‘PROGRESS’, a total of 1,200 piglets were distributed to 300 farmer households from West Garo Hills. Moreover, high-yielding Kuroiler poultry birds were distributed to 100 beneficiaries.