SHILLONG, Jan 17: The debate over the MDA Government’s flagship “FOCUS and FOCUS+” schemes refuses to die down. The schemes under which an amount of Rs 5,000 is provided to farmers, has courted numerous controversies with opposition parties and even those in the ruling alliance terming it as “old wine in new bottle”, “an attempt to woo voters” and alleging misuse of the schemes in urban constituencies where there are no farmers an no arable land. There are also allegations that the government, in an attempt to woo voters, was sanctioning the schemes in some urban constituencies where the NPP has put up candidates.
Political friends and foes of the NPP have, time and again questioned the party regarding the source of funds for FOCUS and FOCUS+.
Despite the CM maintaining that the schemes will bring about an economic revolution on the ground, most parties are of the opinion that a one-time grant of Rs 5,000 will do nothing to help farmers in the state.
Joining in the ongoing debate on the schemes, BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang on Tuesday was categorical that the one-time grant on the eve of elections will not increase the agricultural output of the farmers.
“The grant was provided just before Christmas and people must have spent it on festivities,” he said, insisting that the government should have constructed better markets and should have helped the farmers during the sowing season.
Asking the MDA Government to come clean on the source of funds for FOCUS and FOCUS+, Kharkrang said if such huge amount of funds obtained as loans are spent on the eve of elections, Meghalaya would face tremendous challenge in repaying the money.
The state government has already spent over Rs 150 crore on the schemes and claims that more than three lakhs farmers in the state have been benefitted.
The CM recently stated that the government would spend around Rs 400-500 crore every year to fund the schemes.
