Meghalaya scheme envisions turning farmers into entrepreneurs using limited funds

Setting an example for other states that social welfare schemes can be implemented within limited funds, the Meghalaya government has started a flagship scheme which focuses on motivating farmers to earn their livelihood within a restricted amount of monetary resources.

The Meghalaya government, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, has succeeded in accentuating the income of farmers through the scheme ‘Jal Kund’ that focuses on motivating farmers to come out of slumber and earn their livelihood within a limited funding from the government, the northeastern state’s Development Commissioner Ram Mohan Mishra said. “With the CM’s initiative we have started a flagship Meghalaya State Livelihood Programme, under which we focus on motivating farmers to uplift themselves. Since we do not have enough funds, we do not want grants to be misused by fake beneficiaries,” Mishra said.

“We believe that people will not be able to make a living until they become self-sufficient. Thus, we as a government are trying to instill confidence among them that the government will help them financially if they are willing to work hard,” the IAS officer said. To implement their flagship scheme, the government has hired retired government officials and around 1,000 fresh graduates, on a yearly contract basis, to reach out to the villagers and motivate them to start their own agro-based businesses, he said.

“Meghalaya is blessed with a bountiful nature. The flora and fauna can be used to the optimum by farmers to generate their livelihood,” Mishra said.

“For instance, initially, the state government allots Rs 60,000 to every person willing to construct a ‘Jal Kund’ (water pond) in their farms. This Jal Kund helps a farmer get more than one source of income, like breeding of fishes, using the water for horticulture purposes,” he said.