Tura, Feb 24: The Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, today laid the Foundation Stone for the Rerapara C&RD Block in South West Garo HIlls and also inaugurated the SHG Mela in the presence of MLA, North Tura, Thomas A Sangma, MDC, Boldamgre, Stevie Marak and administrative officers from the district.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that the government of the State has focussed on creating livelihood opportunities for the womenfolk, farmers and the youth through different programs and schemes and one such program is creating livelihood through the Self Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
“Many SHGs have been formed in different blocks of the State and these SHGs have been assisted financially through Start Up Funds, Revolving Fund, Community Management Fund and through Bank Loans,” he said.
The Chief Minister also informed the gathering that 40,000 SHGs with a membership strength of close to 4 lakh members have been assisted financially amounting to 220 crores throughout the State.
During the programme, 12 village organisations under Rerapara C&RD block were given financial assistance amounting to Rs. 1.30 cr and an amount of 50 lakh through Meghalaya Rural bank loan, which is interest free.He urged the SHGs to fulfill the needs of the group and the community through the assistance.
He also highlighted the salient features and the welfare schemes of the FOCUS programme and also apprised the gathering at length of the different missions of the State like the Piggery Mission, Diary Mission, Poultry Mission, Aquaculture Mission etc and urged the community to reap the benefits of these missions though the co-operative societies.
He also informed that 2 crores 25 lakhs has been sanctioned for the new block building and construction work would start soon. He urged the BDO and the contractor to ensure that the building is completed within the time frame for the larger interest, convenience and benefit of the people of the area.
“We have seen that most of the blocks in the State are without buildings or infrastructures therefore the government has allocated 120 crores for new buildings and creation of infrastructures in all the forty six blocks of the State,” he said.
He also added that the tender for the same will be floated in March-April. The Chief Minister also added that the demands for creation of new blocks and civil subdivisions will be reviewed and examined.
