Meghalaya's CM Visits Remote Village, Showcases Community Empowerment and Life Transformation in Mawkynrew Block
East Khasi Hills (Meghalaya), India - On April 10 (ANI): Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma On Wednesday, he traveled to Syntung Village, located in the Mawkynrew Block, aiming to have an extensive interaction with the local residents. There, he reiterated his administration’s dedication to promoting comprehensive growth and strengthening the capabilities of the state’s population.
The purpose of his trip was centered around several significant meetings and discussions covering topics like revolutionizing agriculture, supporting young people, fostering self-help organizations, and implementing governmental programs aimed at improving living conditions in rural areas.
The morning started with an earnest meeting with members of the Jatah IVCS during the journey to Syntung, where the Chief Minister was greeted amicably by both local leaders and inhabitants. The Jatah and Syntung IVCS is an organization established through the efforts of Megha-LAMP, a statewide initiative led by the government of Meghalaya.
The organization has reached at least 155 households out of the total 165 and primarily concentrates on offering financial services and economic chances, as well as tackling various critical requirements of the community via collaborative initiatives.
The afternoon's next destination involved a stroll to Wahrashi waterfalls , where the Meghalaya Chief Minister was greeted by the local musicians.
The Chief Minister not only played alongside the local band but also approved Rs 5 lakh for upgrading their instruments and other gear.
He similarly engaged with local residents to explore ways of boosting tourism. This included discussing plans such as constructing architectural landmarks like visitor service hubs, communal cooking areas, and restrooms, along with eateries offering waterfall vistas, among additional facilities aimed at fostering sustainable economic development.
A major highlight from the day included a trip to the strawberry fields, during which the Chief Minister engaged with local growers who have adopted this lucrative plant.
Meghalaya stands as the fifth largest producer of strawberries in India. In an effort to enhance the state’s strawberry cultivation, the local government provided more than 1.28 million strawberry plants to 1,175 farmers during the fiscal year 2024-25.
The Chief Minister announced that an extra Rs 3 crore would be allocated for strawberry farming throughout the state.
During his first visit to Syntung village, the Meghalaya Chief Minister indicated, “My trips to rural regions aren’t solely for hearing about your challenges; they’re also aimed at building a more robust connection between the administration and our farming community. I am here to listen to your ideas and worries so we can collaborate effectively towards significant progress.”
"We've been relentlessly striving to assist those living in remote regions. Back in 2018, we had around 5,000 Self-Help Groups; however, as of now, this number has surged beyond 50,000 SHGs. Additionally, our financial backing has seen a substantial rise, jumping from Rs 30 crore to an impressive Rs 1,000 crores," stressed the Chief Minister.
He mentioned that the Government is establishing a Farmers' Market in Jatah to tackle issues related to market connectivity.
He stated that over the last seven years, the Government has provided more than 300 farming vehicles to Integrated Village Cooperative Societies.
The Chief Minister stated, "We remain dedicated to assisting our farming community via the CM ASSURE scheme. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been set aside for purchasing broom grass directly from local farmers. To date, this program has aided more than 3,500 farmers, with Mawkynrew securing an impressive 25 metric tons of broom grass."
Moreover, the young delegate from the Jatah Sports Club asked for improved infrastructure, specifically highlighting the need for upgrades to both the football field and viewing galleries. In response, the Chief Minister reaffirmed his dedication to enhancing sports facilities via Mission Football 2.0 and expressed his emphasis on fostering skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and leadership among youths as part of the YESS Meghalaya initiative.
A source of relief for the farmers in Syntung has arrived. CM ELEVATE - The Agricultural Vehicle Program. Through this initiative, which supplies farmers with transportation for moving their crops to marketplaces, expenses have been lowered, access has enhanced, and the area’s farming productivity has increased.
In Syntung, residents play an active role in farming. To transform it into an agrotourism hub, the government plans to establish cold storage facilities and a processing plant under the CM ASSURE program to address the issue of rapid crop spoilage.
By April 2025, 167 applications within the bloc had received approval, with Rs 11,02,860 distributed among 26 farmers.
In order to enhance the rural infrastructure, the Chief Minister announced that Rs 5 lakh would be provided from the Chief Minister's Special Development Fund for building a Village Office (VO).
Moreover, the matter concerning the prompt payment of wages to job cardholders under MGNREGA was tackled as well; the Chief Minister guaranteed that payments would be made without delay and pledged that the problem would be fixed prior to Easter. (ANI)