Shillong, Oct 22: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the government is making big investments in infrastructure while also upscaling livelihoods through targeted interventions.
Speaking at CM-Elevate- Celebration of Entrepreneurship at Jengjal in West Garo Hills, he said without big investment the State cannot push growth and development.
“In the last eight years, the NPP-led government has initiated various projects from externally aided projects. In the history of Meghalaya, we have the highest sanction for road connectivity, including push for overall infrastructure development in health, education and administrative set up,” he said.
He said the government has introduced schemes like FOCUS Plus, PRIME, CM Farm Plus, processing units and CM-MGMP under which over 8,000 artists and groups have been supported with Rs 65 crore.
Today, 628 entrepreneurs from across Meghalaya received sanction orders and cheques under nine CM-Elevate schemes including Agriculture Response Vehicle, Tourism Vehicle, Piggery, Dairy, Goat Farming, Poultry, Any Business Venture, SEED and CM Meghalaya Homestay Mission.
Across all CM-Elevate schemes, more than 30,000 applications have been received, with over 4,500 entrepreneurs approved across 12 districts. Rs 178.79 crore has been sanctioned and Rs 101.31 crore disbursed so far, officials said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister remotely launched 14 Common Facility Centres and 12 warehouses constructed under CM-Elevate.
Under Any Business Venture Scheme, 31 entrepreneurs were supported for projects worth Rs 8.38 crore with Rs 4.19 crore subsidy. Under PRIME Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme, 12 new vehicles were handed over in Garo Hills with Rs 0.66 crore subsidy, taking total beneficiaries to 204.
Under the SEED Scheme, 329 entrepreneurs from Garo Hills received Rs 1.63 crore subsidy. In total, 1,630 beneficiaries have been supported under SEED with Rs 9.90 crore sanctioned.
Under the CM Meghalaya Homestay Mission, 33 sanction orders were handed over in Garo Hills for projects worth Rs 3.30 crore with Rs 2.31 crore subsidy. The scheme targets 3,000 homestays and 15,000 jobs by 2028.
The Chief Minister also flagged off 171 waste collection vehicles – 111 electric and 60 petrol – to Village Water and Sanitation Committees of five Garo Hills districts. With this, Garo Hills has received 561 of 632 allotted vehicles, he said.
