Shillong, May 03: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma today attended the FOCUS programme held at Byrnihat Ground, under Umling C & RD in Ri BHoi District,
Speaking to the crowd who had gathered for the programme in spite of inclement weather the Chief Minister said that the programme of Self Help Groups is another step towards the empowerment of women and giving the women financial independence.
“We started out in 2018 and we had only 3000 SHGs and as we started working on this on a mission mode I am pleased to inform you that we have more than 35,000 SHGs today,” he said. He also informed that more than 200 crores through different funding patterns has been given to different SHGs.
Cheques amounting to Rs 49.90 lakhs was distributed to 16 Village Organizations during the programme. Earlier, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the improved blacktopped internal road at Lum Nongthymmai, Byrnihat.
The 800 meter internal road which starts from 8th Km Byrnihat on the Shillong-Guwahati NH-06 to Lum Nongthymmai village plays a very important role as it serves the backbone for transportation and communication in the area and is also the road leading to the PHC and Dorbar Hall of the village.
Improvement including the Metalling and Blacktopping of the previously kutcha road was sanctioned in March 2020 and is completed within schedule in April 2022 at a total cost of Rs 1 crore.
“I am happy to inform that the Byrnihat PHC will be upgraded to CHC that will cater to the requirement of growing population of the area,” announced the Chief Minister during the inauguration.
The Chief Minister also laid the Foundation Stone for Multi Facility Centre at a programme held at Moonlight School, Byrnihat. As part of the Grants-in-aid under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, sanctioned Rs 60 lakhs for the district as an addition to state initiatives and efforts for Tribal Development.
This fund sanctioned in 2017-18 was recently approved for shifting the Multi Facility Centre from Korhadem village to Byrnihat, Umling C&RD by the Directorate of Community and Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya in February 2022.
The MFC will provide the community with space for a variety of activities and services and would include features such as training and scaling of skill development programs and other activities that would benefit the entire community.
