Sanitary pads made from locally cultivated cotton handed over to SHG
Tura, July 19: First time MLA Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma has launched several initiatives, including distribution of locally-made sanitary pads, during a two-day tour of villages under her constituency and reviewed various government schemes under implementation in these villages.
At the review meetings during the July 17-18 visit, she advocated for stronger community institutions, women-led enterprises and market-linked rural livelihoods in Gambegre constituency in West Garo Hills district.
Discussions on ongoing development initiatives at Darechikgre, Bolchugre and Sampalgre villages focussed on farm mechanisation, self-help groups, poultry, piggery, bamboo-based enterprises and biogas potential.
At Darechikgre (Bolwari), Dr Sangma inaugurated a Custom Hiring Centre set up under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture (AICRP-WIA), aimed at helping farmers access farm machinery and equipment on a shared-use basis.
The programme also saw the distribution of Comilla cotton-based sanitary pads made from locally cultivated cotton, besides the handover of a commercial dough mixer to the Dal’dro Self-Help Group to strengthen its bakery venture.
Officials from PRIME Rural, Central Agricultural University’s College of Community Science, Tura, and local SHG members attended the programme.
PRIME Meghalaya, a state government initiative, supports entrepreneurs through incubation, mentoring, training, funding and market linkages, while AICRP-WIA at CAU’s College of Community Science, Tura, works on reducing women farmers’ drudgery through technology and interventions.
At a review meeting in Bolchugre under Gambegre block, Dr. Sangma discussed the functioning of Community Level Federations, Village Organisations and Self-Help Groups, with a decision taken to conduct a fresh livelihood needs assessment across the block.
Six community halls under CLFs were identified for possible support, with plans to link them to livelihood activities.
The meeting also decided to organise 10 awareness programmes in Garo language in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS) and PRIME Rural to introduce SHGs to new income-generation opportunities.
At Sampalgre village, the MLA reviewed the functioning of the Sampalgre IVCS, which covers seven villages and 12 SHGs and has independently managed poultry and piggery activities.
The visit also explored the scope for expanding poultry and piggery enterprises, strengthening bamboo-based value chains and developing biogas units in the village, which has an estimated cattle population of over 1,000.
Dr Sangma said the focus was on bringing together government departments, academic institutions and community organisations to create sustainable, locally driven livelihood opportunities in Gambegre.
