Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma distributed resources for a range of welfare schemes under agriculture and environment in West Garo Hills today.
One of the key resources awarded to the agricultural community at Tura are Prime Agriculture Response Vehicles (ARVs). The Chief Minister handed over the keys of the ARVs to ten IVCS from Garo Hills region comprising of Jangrapara IVCS Ltd., Chichang IVCS Ltd, Haripur Farmers’ Society, Dondime Multipurpose Society, Kucholsan IVCS Ltd, Upper Kharkutta Four Brothers IVCS Ltd, Songbri IVCS Ltd, Bakrime IVCS Ltd, Kentrikona IVCS Ltd., and Pangcharik Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd.
This scheme is to facilitate farmers in remote areas to transport their agricultural products to the respective designated market places with 50 percent subsidy.
The Chief Minister also distributed Payment for Eco-System Services (PES) cheques meant to support villages, communities, clan or individuals that commit to conserve and protect Natural Forest for a minimum period of 30 years.
Speaking at the function, Sangma said the government’s approach to growth and development has always been inclusive and focused on empowering the rural communities. He said in the near future, Meghalaya will emerge as a shining example of progress and development after undergoing a profound transformation beginning at the grass-roots level.
To restore the natural vegetation by improvement of degraded forest, afforestation on barren lands, restoration of shifting cultivation, MEGLIFE Plantation Initiative was also launched. The total plantation target area is about 22,500 hectares across the State while 1574.84 hectares is the target area in Garo Hills region.
Seed Ball Initiative for Greening Meghalaya was also launched in the district. The initiative is expected to enhance the green cover in a widespread manner by simply throwing them manually or using catapults for dispersing them to a distance and by using drones for dispersing seed balls in remote areas.
The Chief Minister along with Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Ampareen Lyngdoh also felicitated the SSLC and HSSLC toppers in the recently conducted examination by the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), Tura.
Furthermore, to empower teachers throughout the Tura region, 96 schools in West Garo were awarded portable EdTech devices – KYAN kits, with 700 more schools set to receive the same kits.
