Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 34/22

CM FLAGS OFF MOBILE VACCINATION UNIT FOR HARD TO REACH AREAS AT TURA ON12.02.2022

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma flagged off Six Specialized Mobile Vaccination Units at Tura Civil Hospital today morning. Extra Assistant Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Dolrich B G Momin, Chairman, Tura Municipal Board, J D Sangma, District Medical & Health Officer, West Garo Hills Tura Dr. Marwin R Sangma, District Maternal Child Health Officer, Tura Dr. Ivonne M Sangma were among others present at the function.

It may be mentioned that the Government of Meghalaya has partnered with the U S Agency for International Development (USAID) for launching of mobile vaccination initiative to administer vaccines to underserved and marginalised communities who have limited access to vaccination centres and hard to reach areas. Moreover, in order to meet the challenges of hard to reach areas the mobile vaccination units will work in collaboration with GiveIndia, Crypto Relief, USAID, BCG, Vaccine on Wheels which have introduced 6 mobile Vaccination Clinics within West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya. This initiative is hoped to create awareness followed by vaccinating hard to reach tribal and rural population by taking Doctor based Mobile Vaccination Clinics near the communities.

Further, these units will be accompanied by doctors and nurses to counsel communities on the benefits of vaccination, address potential concerns, and administer vaccines at their doorstep and as vaccine eligibility evolves, the units will visit areas close to schools and colleges, while also delivering precautionary doses for frontline health workers and patients above the age of 60 with co-morbidities.

It may also be informed that the Covid-19 pandemic had monumental impact in India and across the globe and people have lost lives, livelihoods and much more for which vaccination is one of the most important ways to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and save millions of lives. Further, India is undertaking one of the world’s largest vaccination campaigns and has made tremendous progress, administering more than 170 crore doses to date, serving as a global example of delivering Covid-19 vaccines at massive scale.

Press Release No. 35/22

CHIEF MINISTER LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR NEW DAIRY COMPLEX AT GANOL ON 12.02.2022

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said that the Government is making the required investment to upscale the dairy sector in the State. He said that through the flagship ‘Dairy Mission’ programme, the State Government has chart out various interventions to promote dairy farming.

“Government of Meghalaya is working with different Dairy Cooperative Societies to encourage milk production across the State,” the Chief Minister said while laying the foundation for new Dairy Complex at Ganol in West Garo Hills District.

The new complex amounting to Rs. 10.52 cr is funded by National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), Government of India, which has contributed Rs. 9.15 cr and Milk Producers Union of West Garo Hills, which has contributed Rs. 86.27 lakh. The new plant will have a capacity of 10,000 litres per day. The existing plant at Ganol has a capacity of 1,000 litres per day.

He informed that the new dairy complex will have a chilling, processing and packaging and distribution unit. The Chief Minister said that livestock provides a lucrative opportunity for the farming community of the State as Meghalaya largely depends on imports from other parts of the State. “Almost 50 percent of the meat products available in the State, including pork, beef, mutton, poultry, fish and dairy products are imported from different regions of India as our production is low. The livestock business amounts to the tune of about Rs. 4500 cr in the State, which means that about Rs. 2250 cr goes outside the State,” he said, while encouraging local entrepreneurs to harness the opportunity that is available in the livestock sector. He informed that the Dairy Mission amounting to Rs. 215 cr aims to provide opportunities to the farming community and entrepreneurs through Cooperative Societies. He also took the opportunity to inform on the Piggery Mission, which is currently being implemented in the State, one of the largest piggery projects in the country amounting to about Rs. 209 cr. He further told the gathering that the Government is set to launch the Poultry Mission for which Rs. 120 cr has been earmarked and Goatry Mission for which Rs. 75 cr has been earmarked in the current financial year. He further urged the people to avail benefit of the livestock programmes of the Government and avail the interest free loans through formation of Cooperative Societies. “We see a great opportunity in livestock production and believe that through this programme we will be able to provide livelihood and income generation amongst the people of the State,” he added.

The New Dairy Complex at Ganol will benefit fifteen Dairy Cooperative Societies in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya and will directly impact about 300 households.

Press Release No. 36/22

CHIEF MINISTER ATTENDS FARMERS PROGRAMME AT TIKRIKILLA ON 12.02.2022

In its continued effort to reach out to the farming community in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday reached out to farmers at Tikrikilla, where at least 288 Producers Groups had gathered to receive the cheques amounting to Rs. 1.86 Cr.

Distributing the cheques at a public programme, which saw participation of Producers Groups, Self Help Groups and Cooperative Societies, the Chief Minister reiterated the Government’s ambitious farmers collectivisation programme – FOCUS, that aims to revolutionize farming activities linked to income generations. “As a Government, we realized that our farming communities in the State were left out, which called for launching various welfare initiatives for the farmers. Through our programmes, we are providing support, financial assistance and market linkage, so as to upscale farming activities,” he said.

In a prioritized manner Government has rolled out the FOCUS programme in the State and by March this year Rs.17.28 cr will be disbursed to about 1650 Producers Groups and by the end of financial year 2022-23 another Rs.130 cr will be disbursed to about 16,800 producers groups. ‘FOCUS’, which is dubbed as the largest farmers welfare programme in the history of Meghalaya, the State which has declared December 1 as “Farmers Day”, envisages to reach out to at least 4.5 lakh farmers with different welfare schemes.

He told the gathering that under FOCUS Rs.200 cr has been earmarked for the current financial year, which is being disbursed to farmers across the State as financial support.

Apart from FOCUS, the State Government is supporting on a mission mode farmers through programmes like Dairy and Piggery Mission, wherein interest free loans are provided to Cooperative Societies as well as financial support to Self Help Groups from National Rural Livelihood Missions.

In the last three months, Community Investment Funds to the tune of Rs.120 cr has been disbursed. In today's programme at Tikrikilla, the Chief Minister distributed interest free bank loans worth Rs.29 lakhs and Community Investment Funds of Rs.21 lakhs to women led SHGs. “Our commitment to spur women empowerment and their entrepreneurial dreams is testament to the burgeoning SHGs Movement in the State,” he added.

During his day-long programme in Tikrikilla, the Chief Minister also interacted with beneficiaries of PMAYG, MGNREGS, NSAP, farmers & SHGs at Tikrikilla. “Understanding people’s issues at the grassroot and ensuring they are heard allows us to make better decisions to their advantage and MDA is committed to this end,” the Chief Minister added.

Press Release No. 37/22

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES COLD STORAGE UNIT AT RENGSINPARA ON 12.02.2022

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday inaugurated the cold storage unit of the Rengsinpara Integrated Village Cooperative Society at Lower Rengsinpara under Tikrikilla block in West Garo Hills. The project promoted under MEGH-LAMP, MBMA West Garo Hills, covers seven villages under cluster mode.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the project will greatly help the farmers in storing and preserving agricultural produce for longer periods irrespective of weather and climatic conditions. He added that the Government will set up more cold storages in different parts of the state for the benefit of the farming community.

The cold storage constructed at a cost of 15 lakhs under funding from MEGH-LAMP and SELCO foundation runs completely on solar power and has a capacity of 5 MT.

The Chief Minister also took time to interact with the villagers of Rengsinpara and nearby villages. He informed the gathering of the different programmes initiated by the Government for the welfare of our farmers. He exhorted the people to avail themselves of the various programmes and schemes designed to enhance the livelihood of rural farmers. The Chief Minister also informed the gathering of the different initiatives for farmers that the Government is promoting through the Integrated Village Cooperative Societies.

It may be mentioned here that the Collective Marketing Center (CMC) is another initiative taken by the Rengsingpara IVCS Ltd. which is being installed at a cost of around 8 lakhs. Both the Cold Storage and Collective Marketing Center is facilitated by MBMA (MeghaLAMP ), West Garo Hills.