Shillong May 16: The Meghalaya government has decided to constitute the Meghalaya Farmers Empowerment Commission which will help farmers in the state air their grievances.

This was approved by the state cabinet in its meeting chaired by chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday.

Deputy chief minister, Prestone Tynsong told reporters that rules would be framed on how the Commission should function.

The terms of reference for the commission will be made, and it will be headed by a chairman, and members would be drawn from various institutes so that the commission will be a platform for farmers to submit their grievances. Members of the Commission will include experts and farmers who would have discussions with experts on the subject of agriculture.

Tynsong said that during the first farmers’ parliament last year, one of the resolutions adopted was to have a farmers’ commission, as well as to declare 2019 as the year of farmers.

However this year, he said, it is not possible to do it, and the government would try to declare 2020 as the year of farmers.

The state cabinet has also decided to rename the present directorate of agriculture (research and training) as the directorate of agriculture (research and training and technology induction).

The proposal of the transport department to engage six enforcement inspectors and 15 enforcement checkers on contract basis was also approved by the cabinet.

The draft Meghalaya state policy for empowerment of people with disabilities in line with the national policy was also approved by the state cabinet. Some of the major highlight of the policy is the increase of job reservation for person with disabilities from three to four per cent and five per cent reservation in the case of education.

The proposal of the social welfare department to have a mission director for the state resource centre on women was also approved.

Moreover, the state cabinet has approved the service rules of the directorate of programme implementation. It was also decided to repeal the Meghalaya services (conduct) rules, 1990 and the Meghalaya services (discipline and appeal) rules, 2011 and bring new rules along with amendments.