Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben J Bambhaniya, visited several key facilities across Meghalaya on today.
The minister’s visit included an inspection of various initiatives aimed at improving public welfare, including healthcare facilities, food distribution systems, rural employment schemes and housing projects.
Bambhaniya began her visit at the Rynjah State Dispensary, where she interacted with healthcare professionals. She reviewed the quality of services provided to local residents and emphasised the need for continued efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and services.
The Union minister also visited the Anapurti Grain ATM at the Fair Price Shop in Rynjah RR Colony. This innovative automated grain dispensing system, introduced in 2023, is the first of its kind in the North East. Designed to provide subsidised food grains efficiently, the system allows beneficiaries to collect their entitlements through biometric authentication for transparency and accuracy in distribution.
Bambhaniya interacted with National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries and observed the smooth online transactions carried out by recipients. The initiative, a partnership between the state’s Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has been hailed as a breakthrough in food security, a press release said.
In Mawdiangdiang, Bambhaniya inspected the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra (BNRGSK), which plays a crucial role in the administration of rural development programmes such as MGNREGA and PMAY-G. The Union minister also interacted with Anganwadi workers and children.
She then visited Mawkasiang village, where she inspected homes constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), and the government-run Children’s Home for Boys in Mawkasiang, a facility that currently cares for 31 children. The minister’s tour also included a visit to Umroh village, where she assessed the functioning of the Village Health Committee (VHC). Bambhaniya praised the efforts of the VHC in promoting health services, such as immunisation, screening for tuberculosis and counseling for non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. She was particularly impressed with the village’s achievement of 100 percent immunisation and institutional deliveries during the previous financial year, the release added.
Following her visit , Smt. Bambhaniya expressed satisfaction with the progress of various government schemes, particularly those focused on rural development, healthcare, and child welfare. “The collaborative efforts between the state government, local communities and national initiatives are key to the success of these programmes. I am confident that the work we are doing today will create lasting improvements in the lives of the people of Meghalaya,” said the Union Minister.
