Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inspected the ongoing construction work of the upcoming Tribal Research Institute (TRI) at Chidekgre near Babadam, West Garo Hills district, which is funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the tune of Rs 41 crores.
Stating that the TRI was a vision of his late father, former Lok Sabha Speaker, PA Sangma whose dream was to preserve the indigenous identity and heritage of the North-Eastern region, Sangma said, “The iconic Tribal Research Institute plans to facilitate research on all North-East tribes and its culture. Once completed plans are being made to host the North-East Tribal Festival at the site”.
The Chief Minister also visited Dachimagre village at Rongkhon, North Tura to inaugurate the Hatchery Unit of the Jakkindil Organisation Committee, comprising eight Self Help Groups and observed that through it the women-led SHG have not only provided means of livelihood for the members of the organisation but have also set an example for other women.
He informed that the government under NRLM and other programmes has identified 30,000 SHGs which will be assisted by to a tune of Rs 200 crores either by direct funding or through financial institutions.
Sangma also interacted with different cooperative societies and producers’ groups involved with the cultivation of ginger, cashew nut, tea, coffee and jackfruit at a meeting organized by the Bakdil NGO
for reviewing the progress of Prime Hub at Jongdikgre village.
Informing that Rs 5000 each for every member of the group is being given as seed money and also highlighting the success of the ginger processing unit at Prime Hub under Songsak C&RD Block, the Chief Minister said that the Meghalaya Government is undertaking initiatives for the uplift of the farmers and producers.
He also assured to look into the demand of the producers and the cooperative societies for establishing of several facilities such as banks and improvement of connectivity.
The Chief Minister also handed over cheques to the producer groups and the cooperative societies.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister visited the Bakdil-run Babadam Primary Health Centre and interacted with the medical staff and lauded them for their ceaseless efforts to provide health care to the people of the region.
He termed Babadam PHC as an “exemplary story of transformation”.
Previously, the PHC was short-staffed, suffered power outages and water shortages which affected its functioning and performance. Today, the PHC is considered one of the best, supporting over 47 villages in the area.
“Concerted efforts by the PHC have resulted in the reduction of malaria infection, increase in institutional deliveries by 90 per cent and 100 per cent immunisation of children in the block,” the Chief Minister noted.
