Shillong, Jan 12: Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma said that the two schemes – Women Empowerment Scheme through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, and Meghalaya State Livestock Missions were launched long ago.
The statement came from the Chief Minister after it was reported that he recently directed the Finance department to release Rs 60 crore for the two schemes to avoid ban on release of new schemes by the Election Commission of India once the poll date is announced.
Talking to media persons over phone, Sangma asked at political opponents for criticizing the state government, “should we not continue to work? The mandate for the government is for five years. Constitutionally and legally, the government is bound to work because every hour and every minute is important.â€
According to Sangma, the State Government has undertaken large scale social mobilization to ensure that targeted stakeholders of the schemes are made aware about it.
“Where is the question of last minute exercise here,†he asked while justifying the government’s initiatives.
Referring to Livestock Mission, he said that the scheme is of great benefit to the beneficiaries especially for the fact that people especially in rural areas are reluctant to take loans adding that, this is the reason that the government is harping on financial literacy.
Maintaining that women empowerment is not a new scheme, he said that the Government is trying to bring a convergence of all its efforts.
As far as Meghalaya State Livestock Missions is concerned, Sangma said that a small seed money was also being given to the beneficiaries and added that Block Development Officers have ready-made data of all the beneficiaries.
“We have organized awareness programmes to generate interest among the people and there is huge response from the people,†he said.
