‘Megha-LAMP to improve family income’

SHILLONG, SEPT 3: Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha LAMP) was launched at Yojana Bhawan by chief minister Mukul M Sangma in the presence of power minister Clement Marak and other parliamentary secretaries.

Megha-LAMP is a key statewide initiative launched by Meghalaya government with the objective to improve family incomes and quality of life in rural Meghalaya through specific focus on developing markets and value chains for sustainable livelihoods and ensuring that these livelihoods are adapted to state’s geographical context.

Megha-LAMP is part of the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihoods Programme (IBDLP) and assisted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The project budget is USD 174 million, USD 50 million as loan assistance with technical assistance from IFAD, USD 50 million from Meghalaya government and remaining from bank loans, convergence funds and some contribution from participating households.

In his address Sangma expressed happiness that the most important agenda of the government to empower the people is being supplemented through the launch of an innovative and pioneering programme. He expressed happiness that Megha LAMP will develop 47,000 enterprises set up by rural community across all 39 blocks and set up 54 value chain and livelihood clusters across at least 18 blocks touching a total of 140,000 households with a special effort to include poorer households, women and the socially excluded.

Sangma informed that Megha- Lamp will create infrastructure for 55 primary markets across the state, will enhance rural connectivity for village clusters and producers by  creating 250 km of eco-friendly roads, 20 submersible bridges and 10 ropeways across the target areas.

Sangma informed that while the government is trying to fulfill its constitutional obligations there is a need to empower people so that they can take care of their social needs and basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. He believed that the programme and other initiatives of the government to harness the potential of natural resources and creating sustainable livelihood will make a difference in the lives of the targeted one third of the population and foster in a sense of wellbeing. He, therefore, urged every stakeholder to drive the programme with dedication and commitment.

Meghalaya chief secretary PBO Warjri informed that this is the third project from IFAD to benefit Meghalaya which will further strengthen the objectives of Basin Development programme.

IFAD mission leader Edward Mallorie said that Megha- LAMP can be an international best practice as it is based on an institutional set up, which is a demand driven and community driven.

Earlier, Pankaj Jain, principal secretary & deputy CEO of MBDA, gave a brief presentation on Megha- LAMP and said that there are three components under Megha-LAMP, Natural Resource Management and Food Security, Enterprise and Livelihoods Development and Knowledge Management around which all projects will converge.

Jain informed that the key interventions of Megha- LAMP would be to identify profitable opportunities, focus on cash crops, identify climate viable enterprise and catalyze support from other government departments for LAMP livelihood activities.

The chief minister also released the annual report of Basin Development, West Khasi hills district during the launch.- By Our Reporter