Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today distributed cheques to co-operative societies of Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills at a function here totalling around Rs 30 crore.
Under the Milk Mission, the CM distributed Rs 12.20 crore to 40 cooperative societies. So far, the Mission has assisted 86 societies, sanctioning a total of Rs 21.83 crore as part of the government’s aim to increase the income of milk farmers and make Meghalaya self-sufficient in milk production.
Sangma also handed out the second batch of zero interest loans amounting to Rs 18.53 crore to 100 cooperative societies involved in rearing pigs. In all, the Piggery Mission has assisted 195 cooperative societies for a total of Rs 35.25 crore.
Also present on the occasion were Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai, Principal Secretary GHP Raju and Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar.
Addressing the gathering, 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.
The Chief Minister also said the state consumes about 18,000 tonnes of pork annually, out of which 10,000 tonnes is imported.
“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 centres in Meghalaya.
The Milk Mission is funded by National Co-operative Development Society with a budget of Rs 215.48 crore, making it the North East’s largest Milk Mission.
