Ampati, January 11: As part of the Gramoday Initiative of Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) in the State, the District Basin Development Unit (BDU), South West Garo Hills in collaboration with the District Soil and Water Conservation Office and District Sports Office, is organizing Gramoday Sub-Watershed Football Tournament across the district which got underway on Wednesday with the first four matches being played simultaneously at Okkapara and Gandhipara under Betasing Block and Gopinathkilla and Anangpara under Zikzak Block, respectively.
It may be mentioned that Gramoday Initiative is aimed at mobilizing community participation in various initiatives of the MBDA under IBDLP with football match as the main mobilizing activity and including various events like exhibition, vegetable & flower shows, food stalls, etc as side attractions. As watershed is an important unit for IBDLP, the football matches and competitions are being conducted sub-watershed wise under the respective blocks.
The winners of the block level final matches would qualify to play at the District Level Final Match to be held on January 26, next and the best sub-watershed team would represent the district at the State Level Grand Finale to be held sometime February, next.
At one of the first football matches played at Okkapara, the BDO, Betasing Block A.G. Momin attended as the chief guest, who greeted the players and highlighted on various initiatives of the Government under IBDLP as well as the MGNREGS, while DPM, BDU, South West Garo Hills, B.Ch. Sangma welcomed the gathering and explained the objectives of Gramoday Initiative and called upon the villagers to come forward and partner with the BDU in various missions under IBDLP. A help desk for registration of partners and Green Volunteers under IBDLP was also set up on the sidelines of all the matches played at different venues.
Participating in the event, the Horticulture department led by its District Officer B. R. Marak organized a vegetable show in which the first three winners for the best vegetable products were given cash prizes. The officials of AH & Veterinary department also distributed medicines and pamphlets on livestock to the farmers while the District Commerce & Industries Centre (DCIC) represented by Functional Manager D.F.R.Marak highlighted on PMEGP scheme and how it can be availed.
