Shillong, Feb 14: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on Monday attended the FOCUS cum SHG Mela at Latyrke under Saipung C & RD Block, Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills which was also attended by Minister, Social Welfare etc Kyrmen Shylla and officials from the district.
In Latyrke, #EastJaintiaHills today to extend financial assistance worth ₹24.95 Lakhs to 46 Producer Groups under the FOCUS program. FOCUS is transforming farmers’ livelihoods through collectivization of their products. We are happy to contribute to their growth.@nstomar pic.twitter.com/pVpcZHp7ey
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 14, 2022
Speaking during the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the FOCUS programme was started with the objective of giving direct benefit to lakhs of families that depended on Agriculture in the State so that they could get some financial assistance from the government. He further spoke on how the FOCUS programme would provide financial assistance to producer groups by providing seed money of Rs 5000 to each member which can be used for farming activities.
Speaking on the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) the Chief Minister said that it is a programme that would greatly benefit the womenfolk. “Through the NRLM we have been able to distribute over 200 crores throughout the State to different Self Help Groups (SHGs) with over 40,000 SHGs with an average overall membership of over four lakh women,” he said.
He also informed that Rs 30 lakhs would be distributed to 60 SHGs during the programme.The Chief Minister later distributed cheques to 46 producer groups under the Saipung C & RD Block amounting to Rs 25 lakhs.