AMPATI, Jan 30: Fourteen villages under Zikzak C&RD Block in South West Garo Hills on January 29 celebrated the 1st anniversary of ‘my village, model village‘, launched by former chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma at Garagre on 5th May 2017.
The ‘my village, model village’ programme facilitated by Bakdil, an NGO, was conceived considering the need to engage and include stakeholders at the village level to usher in sustainable integrated development in the region.
The concept is based on a sustainable development model to empower the communities by addressing the critical gaps in convergence with line departments and other government agencies through increased community participation.
The project aims to increase livelihood opportunities through assistance from financial institutions and accomplish food security through multiple cropping, formation of farmers clubs and promotion of integrated farming system.
The daylong celebration was marked by giving away of awards under several categories to individuals and villages by local MLA Dikkanchi D Shira and other invitees including South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ramkumar S, NABARD DDM M Dkhar, District Agriculture Officer S M Sangma and Zikzak C&RD Block Development Officer L K Marak. The awards included best poultry farmer, best water source maintaining village, best loan repayment, best plantation management village, best seasonal rice cultivator and cleanest village.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, local MLA Dikkanchi D Shira lauded the efforts of Bakdil and its Director Fr Sunny Joseph Mavelil. Speaking on the need for dedication and discipline to achieve a set goal, Shira urged the gathering to earnestly work towards achieving economic independence through sustainable livelihood activities under the project.
Earlier, South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ramkumar S stated that he was happy to see womenfolk availing loans from financial institutions to increase their family income. During his address he urged the gathering to take development in to their own hands in order to provide better opportunities to future generations.
NABARD DDM M Dkhar who also spoke on the occasion expressed his appreciation to the members of the project for successfully repaying the loans provided to them for livelihood generation activities. The bank is impressed and so it is coming to the people now, which is in itself an achievement, he stated. Speaking on the need to create demand for economic activities and thus empower the people through financial assistance he urged the gathering to voice their demands for development projects.
Earlier, a brief report on the achievements under the project were read out which included increased institutional delivery, increased financial assistance by financial institutions in the form of loans for piggery, poultry rearing etc, and successful orchard plantations amongst others.
