Shillong, Dec 17: The Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today distributed cheques to different co-operative societies of Khasi and Jaintia Hills at a function at State Convention Centre, Shillong in the presence of Minister, AH & Veterinary, Shanbor Shullai, Principal Secretary, AH & Veterinary, GHP Raju and Commissioner & Secretary, Dr Vijay Kumar.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that there is a large shift in the overall spending of the government in various key sectors because the government focused on delivery, implementation, increasing efficiency and improving governance.
He added that the two important verticals viz the Social sector vertical like Health, Education, Social Welfare and others and the Socio Economic vertical which is economically driven but socially inclined which are areas like Farming, Food Processing.
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Tourism needed to be pushed to take advantage of the overall spending of the government so that benefit can reach to the poorest of the poor at the grass root level.
“Till we are not able to connect these two dots there will be some gap in the actual outcome that we expect which is to make a difference in people’s lives and bring up the livelihood level,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said the State consumes about 18,000 MT annually of pork out of which 10,000 MT is imported and if the deficit requirement of pork can be produced by the State the revenue will stay in the State.
“We have a readymade market and we just need to take advantage of this readymade market by providing support and infrastructure and creating livelihood for the people to be able to give the revenue back to the people of the State,” he said. He also assured of extending support to the twelve Pig Breeding Centers in the State.
It may be mentioned here that the Milk Mission funded by National Co-operative Development Society with a budget of Rs 215.48 Cr making it North East India’s largest Milk Mission will directly benefit 2000 households and Loan sanction letters amounting to a total of Rs 12.20 Cr are issued to 40 co-operative societies of the State. Under the Piggery Mission loan sanction letters to 100 co-operative societies amounting to Rs 18.53 Cr are being issued.