Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma distributed cheques under the government’s various flagship programs to beneficiaries at Umlyngka under Mylliem constituency today in the presence of cabinet minister and MLA, Hamleston Dohling.
Financial assistance of Rs 5 crore was given to individuals, clans and communities for preservation of forest cover and natural resources under the scheme.
“Ninety per cent of the forests in the State are community owned and now we are giving you the money to protect our forests,” the chief minister said.
At the programme, financial benefits under FOCUS+ were handed over to 458 producers amounting to 22.90 lakhs while 100 beneficiaries received 5000 kuroiler poultry birds through the Rural Livestock Poultry Scheme ‘Progress’ to empower them to improve their livelihoods.
Funds of Rs 1.20 lakh through Yess Meghalaya was also handed to seven youth organisations of the constituency.
“These programs reflect the commitment of the government to keep the interest of the State and its people as the top priority and to make Meghalaya one among the top ten states in the country,” Sangma reiterated.
He informed that the government intends to make the flagship programmes an annual feature. “The government will be infusing 400 crores into the rural economy every year and we urge the beneficiaries to use the money in a productive manner,” he added.
