Tura, November 05: The Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on 4 November distributed nutritional packages comprising of five 3 month old kuroilers and 8 kilos of feed to lactating and single mothers at Bakdil Krimkro Federation Centre, Upper Bamonpara, Dalu. The packages were distributed during the launch of the Government’s Nutritional Security Program and celebration of achievement of hundred lakhs loan by Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the Bakdil Krimkro SHG Federation, Dalu, West Garo Hills.
The Nutritional Security program, an initiative of the government and the brainchild of the Chief Minister, aspires to alleviate nutritional deficiency amongst lactating mothers, children and the aged through the introduction backyard kuroilers farming under the Livestock Mission.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chokpot MLA Bluebell Sangma. During the programme Dr Mukul Sangma also released the publication of achievements of the Bakdil Krimkro SHG Federation and unveiled a plaque commemorating the launch of the Nutritional Security Program before gifting two trays of eggs to the Nokma who donated land for the construction of the Bakdil Krimkro SHG Federation Centre. He also felicitated officials of the Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB), MRB Dalu Branch Manager and three successful poultry entrepreneurs of the region.
Addressing the gathering the Chief Minister congratulated Bakdil for spearheading the movement to achieve self dependency through entrepreneurship and SHG formation. He said the success of the federation was commendable and in itself motivational. Speaking on the high incidence of nutritional deficiency amongst mothers, children and the aged in the state Dr Sangma said that the government was aggressively pursuing to alleviate the dilemma through sustainable initiatives. He said, besides the National Security Program through backyard kuroilers farming the government had initiated a scheme wherein initially 40,000 families of the state would benefit from piggery under the Livestock Mission.
Speaking on the importance of right partners for a scheme to become successful Dr Sangma said that it was always hard to attain the desired goals once a scheme is launched and that it was up to the stakeholders to make it work. He also announced that the MHIS would be improved so that zero payment would be borne by smart card holders for medical treatment.
Dr Sangma later urged Bakdil Director Fr Sunny Joseph Mavelil to encourage Stevia cultivation amongst the federation members. The Stevia plant, Dr Sangma stated was used as a sweetener instead of high calorie sugar and was in high demand and therefore its cultivation would reap in soaring economic benefits.
Fr Sunny who also spoke on the occasion said that more than 150 lakhs loan had been achieved by the Krimkro SHG Federation members out of which 60,000 thousand had been repaid to the MRB. He lauded the efforts of the members of the MEB for extending support by providing loans to the SHG members. Speaking on the achievements of the Bakdil Krimkro SHG Federation Fr Sunny believed that Krimkro could be declared a Model Federation in the near future.
