SHILLONG, JUL 24: The MDA government is working to roll out direct financial support for up to 2 lakh farmers in Meghalaya before the current term ends, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar announced on Friday.

Speaking at a public meeting in Patharkhmah organized to garner support for NPP Shillong Lok Sabha byelection candidate Dr DRL Nonglait, Dhar said the proposal was taken up with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma during a meeting on Thursday.

The Deputy CM said the party machinery and farmers’ associations have been asked to prepare for the rollout. Under the proposed scheme, farmers would receive assistance in three slabs.

“We will try to provide financial assistance to as many as 2 lakh farmers. Some will get Rs 5,000, some Rs 6,000 and some Rs 7,000,” Dhar told the gathering. 

“The idea is to give them support so they can expand agriculture and allied activities.”

Dhar described the farming community in the region as large and said the NPP-led MDA government has prioritized assistance to them. 

“The help from the government to farmers in this area has been tremendous,” he said.

He also defended the government’s record in border areas, claiming it had acted where earlier administrations had not. 

Responding to reports alleging land loss, Dhar asserted that no territory had been ceded. 

“There are articles saying Meghalaya has lost land. The truth is we have not. As a government we have gone to all the border areas to ensure our people can live in peace and security and earn their livelihood, so that their income improves,” he said.