Shillong, March 30: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, inaugurated several projects at Umsning Football Ground, Patarim for the Ri Bhoi district that included Ri Bhoi Silk Dream: E-Rise (a project for Eri Rearing, Innovation, Spinning and Empowerment), laying of foundation for Umsning Mini Stadium, launch of Project E-RISE and distribution of assets and launch of Project Aspire- FILO app based coaching.
Also present were Minister, Community & Rural Development, Sosthenes Sohtun, MLA, Umsning, Dr C Lyngdoh and MLA, Nongpoh, Mayralborn Syiem besides officials from the district administration.
Delivering his speech, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, recollecting the interaction that he had with the people of Umsning in the month of November 2025 said that the program of the day is the outcome that interaction and said, “As a government we have always believed that to bring the changes and the developments that is required we must listen and connect with the people and we are a responsive government delivering on time.”
He also recalled the CM Connect in Bhoirymbong where a resident had flagged the need to have training program for fisheries and said, “It is because of that one individual who had suggested the need for a training program in fishery today over 1600 fish farmers have been trained,” and added that it was in a similar CM Connect that the challenges such as low production of cocoon due unavailability of sufficient food plants for worms, high worm mortality due to lack of dedicated space for rearing silkworms, no value addition with 95% cocoon sold to buyers from Assam at Rs 700-800 per kg because traditional spinning methods have very poor productivity, cocoons fetching low price as compared to the processed yarn and lack of monetisation of pupa and manure due to low quantity were highlighted by the farmers that led to the E-RISE project for eri weavers. “In Ri Bhoi alone we have more than 7000 eri cocoon farmers and eri weavers and we will be supporting each of them in a phase wise manner starting with 1200 farming households across 22 clusters spread over 5 blocks with about Rs 30000 for each beneficiary,” he added. He informed that the investment of about Rs 4.61 Crs in this sector the returns will be about Rs 10 Crs annually. “This return will come not to the government but to the beneficiaries and farmers,” he stated.
He informed that the key goals of the E-RISE is to enhance cocoon production, converting into yarn for better returns, promote rural employment, upgrade local infrastructure and strengthen market linkages for SHG-led enterprises leading to Increased income of the farmers.
The Chief Minister also informed that in yesterday’s meeting with the Finance Minister in Delhi, the Finance Minister was wearing a saree of eri silk from Meghalaya, “This is a great honour for the re farmers of Meghalaya and also a matter or happiness that the Finance Minister herself is promoting eri silk of the state,” he said and concluded by stating that E-RISE by addressing bottlenecks in the value chain is set to establish Ri-Bhoi as a national leader in organic and sustainable silk production.
Further, he added that the Umsning Mini Stadium was a long desire of the people of the area and expressed happiness in being able to lay the foundation stone. “This project includes laying of natural football turf Including construction of covered gallery, side drain and chainlink fencing amounting to Rs. 4.71 Crs,” he informed.
Earlier, the Chief Minister and the other dignitaries handed over the ERISE machines, nets and cheques to beneficiaries and also distributed the MSSDS Training Certificates to fish farmers.
