SHILLONG, Aug 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on Thursday released the first installment of Rs 2,500 as the first tranche of FY 2023-24 to more than 93,000 beneficiaries, totalling to Rs 23.25 crore, under the FOCUS+ Scheme, an extended model of the state’s flagship FOCUS initiative.
FOCUS+ was launched in July 2022 as an expansion of the Farmers’ Collectivisation for Upscaling Production and Marketing Systems (FOCUS) initiative.
In his address, the chief minister emphasised the scheme’s role in transforming rural Meghalaya, he said, “Today is a remarkable day for us all. Over 10,000 people from about 52 C&RD blocks across various regions have joined us online, connected through technology. I often stress our goal to build a USD 10 billion economy by 2028. Infrastructure like roads, administrative buildings, or sports facilities alone cannot drive holistic development. To realize this vision, every citizen, village, block, and district must progress together.”
Recounting his visit to Iewduh market, established over a century ago, he noted that no previous government was able to directly support its street vendors, shopkeepers, and hawkers. He explained that the newly launched Chief Minister Urban Livelihood Grant (CM ULG) scheme will now provide direct benefit transfers and cash assistance to uplift small businesses and livelihoods.
Addressing farmers’ needs, he said, “We recognised that our farmers needed additional financial support to address smaller but critical challenges they face daily. This realisation led us to launch the FOCUS+ programme.”
He announced that beneficiaries who received the first installment for the 2023–24 tranche will soon receive their remaining installments in the near future. He urged farmers to use these funds productively and register on the MeghalayaOne portal (https://meghalayaone.gov.in/) which is a unified gateway platform for all schemes and citizen services.
Testimonials from beneficiaries and members of Farmers Producers Group of different blocks across the State, underscored the tangible benefits of the scheme.
Batskhem Nongrum, a beneficiary from Mawkynrew Block and a member of Dohlang Producer Group, expressed gratitude to the State government for the opportunities and incentives provided through the FOCUS scheme. He hoped that various initiatives would continue through FOCUS and FOCUS+.
The launch event featured a video showcasing the journey from FOCUS to FOCUS+, illustrating the initiative’s growth and impact.
