Port Blair, Dec. 15: An Awareness-cum-People’s Education programme was organized in the Community Hall, Ograbraj in convergence with A&N Rural Livelihood Mission, Department of RD & Panchayat, Agriculture, Fisheries, Lead Bank and A&N State Cooperative Bank to sensitize about Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme, Flagship Schemes of Govt. of India implemented by line Department and initiatives of A&N Administration aiming at promoting self-employment and development of Industrial activities utilizing the resources available in agriculture and fisheries sector.
The programme was organized involving the Gram Panchayats of Mithakhari, Tushnabad, Namunaghar & Chouldari which was attended by 209 participants mostly SHGs, Cooperative Societies, FPOs, Farmers & unemployed rural youth. The Department had also setup 2 dedicated Help Desk for PMFME and PMEGP Schemes manned with Technical Resource Persons for filling and uploading applications in the PMFME and PMEGP portal.
The programme was graced by Shri Rahul Dev, IAS (Pbr.) as the chief guest. Shri Rajender Pal, BDO (Ferrargunj), Shri Umar Farroq, Lead District Manager, Shri Sindhupathi Raja, Nodal Officer (PMFME), Shri Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Director (Agri.), Ms. Gurjeet Kaur, Extension Officer (RD), Shri Mohammed Shafique, Pradhan (Mithakhari), Shri Venkat, Pradhan (Namunaghar), Shri Tapashi Shah, Pradhan (Chouldhari), and Officials of Industries, Fisheries, Agriculture, RD & Panchayat, A&N KVIB and A& N State Co-operative bank were also present.
In his inaugural address, the chief guest briefed about the importance of this programme considering the scenario of A&N Islands in terms of unemployment vis–a-vis the potential of A&N Islands in different sector. He also urged participants to avail the schemes of the developing agencies for their economic development.
The BDO explained about PM Aawas Yojana and other block schemes and motivated the participants to utilize the opportunities created by the Govt. for addressing their personal needs. Shri Sindhupathi Raja, Nodal Officer (PMFME) delivered key note address and gave detailed presentation about PMFME scheme of MoFPI implemented by Industries Department under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahatsov. Besides this, other Flagship and UT Schemes implemented by Line Departments and implementing agencies viz. PMEGP, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, Standup India, Social Security’s Scheme etc. were explained in details by their representatives.
In the concluding session, the forum was opened up for interaction and Q&A session for the participants in which clarification sought by the participants on the different schemes were answered by the Department representatives. The CRPs accompanied by the SHGs requested for creating marketing assistance ensuring availability of packaging material, poultry chicks & other inputs for livelihood of farming community. The programme ended with a proposal for conducting frequent awareness programme at different panchayat of A&N Islands.