Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launches FOCUS+ in Meghalaya

FROM BOKO CORRESPONDENT

RESUBELPARA: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday launched FOCUS+ as an expansion to his flagship initiative FOCUS to benefit all households across Meghalaya.

In its new format, FOCUS+ will provide an opportunity to families to take up additional activities and contribute towards development of the agriculture value chain. Under this scheme, a financial aid of Rs 5,000 per household will be provided directly to the beneficiary's bank account.

The scheme launched at an event in Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, is likely to provide aid to large sections of Meghalaya's rural population and will look to transform lives of the people of the State.

Meghalaya is progressing fast on various parameters, including getting a top rating in NITI Aayog's Innovation Index, ranking among the best in Start-up ecosystem, global awards and recognition, and looks to be on course to realizing its vision of being among the top 10 States in 10 years.

Speaking at the event, Sangma said, "Over the past four-and-a-half years, Meghalaya is making constant progress on various fronts. One of our key priority areas is our farmers. Our farmers' support initiative FOCUS has provided much-needed impetus for upgrading of farming activities, results of which are for everyone to see. Initiatives like mission mode projects in Lakadong turmeric, piggery, milk, spice, ginger and others are providing necessary means to build a support system for our farmers with interventions from farm to market.

"FOCUS is very close to my heart, because it helped a large section of our farming community. And FOCUS+ will provide much-needed aid to ensure that every family in rural Meghalaya is empowered to realize their true potential. The scheme will provide Rs 5,000 cash benefits to households across the State. This is part of our vision to bring all our farmers under collectivization and help them through various interventions, in turn doubling their income," added Sangma.

FOCUS, originally launched in March, 2021, has benefitted 2.45 lakh farmers till date. It was launched to boost agri economic activities by collectivization of producer groups to farm and non-farm produce.

Under FOCUS+, households would be provided with a FOCUS+ card as identification and cash transfer of Rs 5,000 as family benefit. Individuals would need to get registered under a producer group to avail the benefit. This is an additional benefit over the Rs 5,000 to the producer group account from the FOCUS scheme.

Later, during the media interaction, Sangma reiterated that five of 12e TMC MLAs are in close touch with NPP leaders and the TMC is in disintegration mode now.

Sangma also claimed that the arrest of BJP leader Bernard Marak will not have any impact on the NPP-BJP alliance.

"The arrest of Bernard Marak will have no impact on the NPP BJP alliance", said Sangma.

"This is completely a personal level matter. I don't think this will have any impact on the alliance" he said.

"You see his past records. He is a surrendered militant with more than 25 pending cases and the basis of law, on the basis of evidence, police arrested him. This has nothing to do with politics and nothing to do with alliance. And I think BJP is a professional organization, It has to be done in a professional manner. Some people might have tried to influence it, but neither NPP nor BJP will allow this personal issue to govern the alliance", Sangma said.

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