The development of rural areas of the state has been given utmost importance to accelerate economic development and the state government is expanding good governance in every house, said Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma.

The development of rural areas of the state has been given utmost importance to accelerate economic development and the state government is expanding good governance in every house, said Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma.

Vikasmela and Prati Ghare Sushason camps are being held all over the state to extend facilities of government schemes and services to the last person of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said while laying the foundation stone of the District Panchayat Resource Centre at Dhalabil Gram Panchayat in Khowai district on Thursday.

The construction of this District Panchayat Resource Centre has been completed with expenditure of Rs. 2 crore and 24 exhibition stalls of different departments of the state government were opened in the camp. The Deputy Chief Minister visited the exhibition stalls at the Camp.

At the camp, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the city will be developed only if the rural areas are developed. Therefore, the government has taken a multifaceted programme to improve the quality of life of the people in rural areas. Mothers and sisters are being included in all these development programmes. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the development of the state will be accelerated only if women are self-reliant.

Hence women empowerment is the priority area of the government. He said that the government is working seriously for the development of 12 backward blocks of the state. There was no electricity service in Sarkhi para of Mungiakami block and the present government has illuminated this village with the help of solar energy. Chairman of Khowai Zilla Parishad Joydeb Debbarma said that different schemes and services of the Central and State Governments are being delivered to the citizens through Prati Ghare Sushason Campaign. Vikas mela and Prati Ghare Sushason camp are being held for this purpose. Special Secretary of the Department of Rural Development Dr. Sandeep R. Rathore spoke among others.

District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma delivered the welcome speech. MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury, MLA Kalyani Roy, MLA Prashanta Debbarma, MLA Nirmal Biswas, State Sports Council Secretary Amit Rakshit, Chairperson of Khowai Municipal Council DebashisNath Sharma, Chief Engineer of Rural Development Swapan Kumar Das, Director of Panchayat Department Debendra Reang, District Superintendent of Police Ratiranjan Debnath and others were present at the camp.

At the camp, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, 1 beneficiary was given a fish transport van, 2 unorganized sector workers were given e-SHRAM cards, 2 farmers were given soil health cards and 8 self-help groups of Khowai block were given loans of 13 lakh 50 thousand rupees.

Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma handed over the cheque, fish transport vans and other benefits to the beneficiaries. 40 families were assisted for rearing chickens at the Prati Ghare Sushason Camp held at Dhalabil Gram Panchayat. Beneficiary families were given 10 chickens each and materials to support rearing chicken. 22 lakhs 45 thousand rupees were given loan from Punjab National Bank to 2 beneficiaries for auto rickshaw and 1 entrepreneur for making incense sticks. A loan of 12 lakh 84 thousand 240 rupees has been given to 13 self-help groups under JFMC from the Forest Department. Besides, a loan of 10 lakh rupees and 1 lakh rupees has been given to 1 self-help group for fish farming in the biofloc system. 20 farmers were given power tillers and 96 farmers were given Kisan Credit Cards from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Besides, soil samples of 1,185 farmers have been collected for the Soil Health Card. Soil health cards have been given to 11 farmers.

Fish hatchery and medicines were given to 8 fish farmers from the Department of Fisheries under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. In the camp, 12 beneficiaries were given financial assistance of Rs. 10 thousand under Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) to enable fish farmers to clean their water bodies.SC, ST, PRTC, OBC certificates were given by Sub-Divisional Administration in the Camp.