Tura, June 13: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, accompanied by North Tura MLA and the Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister, Thomas A Sangma, launched the state-wide Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Scheme and distributed cheques under FOCUS program for the producer groups at SMELC Building, Tura, on Monday .
Happy to launch the state-wide Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Scheme in Tura. This unique scheme will extend financial support to communities, clans & individuals in conservation of forests & its natural resources@PMOIndia @byadavbjp @moefcc pic.twitter.com/oecGu3QW9U
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 13, 2022
Launching the scheme, the chief minister highlighted the objectives of PES and informed that the scheme is being launched to help the community in protecting the natural environment and to provide assistance to the farmers.
Stating that the response of the people towards PES is positive in the state, the chief minister informed that in the last four and half years, the NPP led MDA Govt. had created schemes for the up-liftmen of the farmers in the state. He also urged the community leaders to organize volunteers to take care of the natural environment and informed that the Govt. will be providing financial assistance of Rs. 15,000 per hectare under PES for preserving and conserving the environment for which the Govt. had earmarked Rs. 50 crores per year.
The Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, Thomas A Sangma, while highlighting the activities of the Village Natural Resources Management, informed that after Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya is the first to implement the PES scheme in the entire North-East and lauded the chief minister for his initiatives towards successful launching of the scheme.
The Additional Project Director of CLLMP, Gunanka DB, while highlighting the aims and objectives of the PES scheme, stressed on the need to preserve the forest cover and urged the stake-holders to organize the volunteers for the successful implementation of the scheme.
The Nokma of Baladinggre A.king land, Klason T Sangma, who is also a PES partner, while sharing his experience, urged the people to join hands in saving the water-catchment areas and the water bodies in their respective localities.
During the program, the chief minister also distributed cheques to the different producer groups under the FOCUS program.
Under Meghalaya’s biggest Farmers’ Welfare Programme- FOCUS, we distributed cheques to 75 Farmer Producer Groups of Gambegre & Rongram Block amounting to ₹32.35 Lakhs@nstomar @AgriGoI pic.twitter.com/iVCEoWuVql
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 13, 2022
