NABARD’s Integrated Tribal Development Programme inaugurated

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: “The Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up various schemes for the welfare and benefit of the farmers and it is the need of the hour to avail these schemes. The banking sectors have also changed their attitude towards the countrymen for which no one has to knock the door of the banks, rather the banks will go the doorsteps of the village farmers,” said Mangaldai legislator Guru Jyoti Das while inaugurating the NABARD sponsored Integrated Tribal Development Programme under Tribal Development Fund at village Mudoibori in Udalguri district.

The NABARD sponsored project has been implemented by the North East Centre for All Round Development (NECARD) - a premier non-government voluntary organization founded in 1992. Under this novel project, a total of 200 beneficiaries belonging to the Bodo community of four villages, namely Chenialpara, Mazgaon No. 1, Kacharipara, and Chilabandha will be provided the saplings of guava, areca nut, apple berry and coconut to cultivate in three bighas of homestead land. Besides these saplings, the seed of ginger, turmeric, and organic vegetables will also be provided to the farmers along with the seed, organic manure while the NECARD will also offer voluntary counselling, guidance with an arrangement of proper marketing facility.

Taking part in the function, Chief General Manager of Assam region of NABARD, Shiva Shankar Saha appreciated the traditional social system of the villages in Assam and appealed to the beneficiaries to utilize the fertile soil of the State. Referring to the banking system, he said that villagers should feel free to take financial assistance from the bank. However, he also criticized a section of bank officials for their indifferent attitude and negligence towards the customers and farmers in providing assistance and he termed it as very unfortunate. In his speech, the CGM of the Assam Region of NABARD elaborately explained the various schemes and projects offered by the NABARD and the Government of India.

Speaking on the smooth functioning and simple transactions of the banking institutions, he made it clear that there was no place for the agents or middlemen between the banks and the customers. “Please never talk to any middleman or agents while availing the facility or assistance from banks. We have no such middlemen or agents,” he asserted.

District Development Manager of NABARD in Darrang district, Abhijit Deuri, Lead District Manager of Udalguri district, Naresh Daimary, and other dignitaries also attended the inaugural function and took part in the interaction with the beneficiaries while chairman of NECARD, Gautamananda Goswami offered the vote of thanks in the function anchored by media person Bhargab Kumar Das.

NECARD was formed in 1992 and during its 27 years of illustrious activities, has so far formed around 1,000 self-help groups in Darrang and Udalguri districts and 50 Joint Liability Groups through which they have been implementing various agriculture-based schemes. The prominent schemes implemented by this premier NGO is the preservation of the fruit trees which are on the verge of extinction, beekeeping, and conservation of biodiversity.

Also Read: Awareness meet on ‘Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme’ held in Arunachal Pradesh

Also Watch: India’s First PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s 130th Birth Anniversary observed