SHILLONG, JUL 24: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Friday announced that the Meghalaya government plans to provide financial assistance to over 2 lakh farmers across the state within the current term of the MDA government.

Addressing a public meeting at Patharkhmah to campaign for NPP Shillong Lok Sabha byelection candidate Dr DRL Nonglait, Dhar said the initiative was discussed with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and would be implemented through party workers and farmers’ associations.

“I was in a meeting with the CM yesterday. He told me to inform party workers and farmers’ associations that we will try to prepare financial assistance for up to 2 lakh farmers within this term,” Dhar said.

According to him, the assistance would range between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000 per farmer.

“Some will get Rs 5,000, some Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000. This financial assistance is meant to give them the strength to expand their agriculture and allied activities,” he added.

Highlighting the government’s focus on the agriculture sector, Dhar noted that there are a large number of farmers in the region and that support from the MDA government led by the NPP has been “tremendous.”

The Deputy Chief Minister also spoke on the government’s work in border areas, stating that the present administration had taken steps that previous governments had not.

“You yourselves know better what the government has done with regard to the border areas. No previous government had the courage to take decisions for the peace and welfare of our people,” he said.

He further clarified reports about alleged land loss, saying the government had visited all border areas to ensure residents could live in peace and security.

“As a government, we have gone to visit all the border areas to make sure that our people can live in peace and security and earn a livelihood so that their income can increase,” Dhar said.