From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, June 2: Mawlyndep village in Ri-Bhoi district, adopted by Rajya Sabha member, WR Kharlukhi, under Phase-II of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), has emerged as a model of rural transformation, with developmental investments worth over Rs 50 crore converged through multiple government schemes and departments.
Marking a major milestone in the village’s development journey, Kharlukhi on Tuesday inaugurated the Mawlyndep Community Biofloc Fish Farming Unit, a first-of-its-kind livelihood project expected to significantly boost income generation and employment opportunities for local residents.
The biofloc fish farming facility, conceptualised as an end-to-end fisheries enterprise, was initiated in 2023 but suffered setbacks after being damaged twice by cyclonic storms. Following extensive restoration efforts, the project was finally completed and commissioned. The unit is also planned to have an integrated cold storage and fish processing facility within the village, ensuring that local producers have access to post-harvest infrastructure and market support.
Officials informed that the facility has the capacity to produce up to 20 tonnes of fish per cycle, with two production cycles annually. The project is projected to generate a gross income of nearly Rs 70 lakh per cycle and about Rs 1.4 crore annually, making it one of the most ambitious community-based livelihood initiatives in the district.
During the programme, Dr. Kharlukhi also inaugurated a Livelihood Service Centre supported under the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), two water storage tanks constructed under MGNREGS, a guest house built through MPLADS funding and a school building constructed through the convergence of CMSDF and MPLADS schemes.
Inputs required for operating the biofloc fish farming unit were formally handed over to 15 beneficiary self-help groups (SHGs).
The MP also laid foundation stones for the construction, metalling and blacktopping of roads in Mawlyndep, Umbir and Umniuh Khwan villages—projects expected to improve rural connectivity and accelerate socio-economic growth in the region.
According to officials, the transformation of Mawlyndep under SAGY has been driven by a convergence-based development model that has mobilised investments of approximately Rs 50.90 crore from various government departments and flagship schemes. Key contributions include Rs 7.89 crore from the Public Health Engineering Department, Rs 2.92 crore from the Fisheries Department, Rs 1.31 crore under PMAY-G, Rs 59.31 lakh through MGNREGS and Rs 36.95 lakh under NRLM, along with support from the Tourism Department, PWD, MePDCL, Power Grid CSR and other development agencies.
The investments have strengthened drinking water supply, housing, electrification, fisheries development, livelihood generation, rural infrastructure and community assets, substantially improving the quality of life of residents.
Speaking at the function, village leaders, including Mawlyndep headman Jinu Kharbuki, Umniuh headman William Lyngdoh and Umbir headman PJ Kurbah, expressed gratitude to the government and implementing agencies for bringing unprecedented development to the area.
They particularly acknowledged Kharlukhi’s role in adopting the village and consistently supporting its progress under the SAGY programme.
Project Director of DRDA and SAGY Nodal Officer Raja Brahma lauded the coordinated efforts of various departments in ensuring the successful implementation of the projects and delivering developmental benefits at the grassroots.
Addressing the gathering, Kharlukhi expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in Mawlyndep and other villages adopted by him under the programme.
