SHILLLONG: The state Cabinet on Thursday approved constitution of the Meghalaya Farmer’s Empowerment Commission.
The commission will act as a platform for farmers to submit their papers and programmes besides having discussions with experts on agriculture.
Talking to newsmen after the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the idea of constituting the commission was mooted during the first ever farmers’ parliament which was held in the state last year.
The farmers in the parliament also wanted the state government to declare 2019 as the year of farmers.
However, Tynsong said the government will try to declare 2020 as the year of farmers.
He also added that the terms of reference for the commission will be finalised shortly. Stating that the rules will be in place for the commission shortly, he said most of the members of the commission will be experts and farmers.
PwDs empowerment
The draft Meghalaya state policy for empowerment of persons with disability (PwD) was approved by the state cabinet on Thursday.
The policy has been approved as per the national policy after the cabinet received a memo from the Social Welfare department.
After the cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that job reservation for PwDs has now been increased to 4 per cent from 3 per cent in the state policy.
Additionally, reservation for PwDs in educational institutes has been increased to 5 per cent as per the Amended Act of 2016.
Mission Director
The cabinet also approved the proposal of Social Welfare department to appoint a Mission Director for the state resources centre for women on a contractual basis for a period of one year.
The role of the director is to create awareness and conduct training as directed by the Ministry of Social welfare.
