Correspondent
IMPHAL, JANUARY 8
[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nion Minister of DoNER Paban Singh Ghatowar today launched one of the world’s top ten livelihood project for the needy people - the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project III (NERCOMP-III) for Chandel and Churachandpur districts of Manipur during a function at MFDC auditorium in Imphal. NERCOMP-III was launched in Longding, Tirap and Changlang districts in Arunachal Pradesh (AP).Thus the project has covered a total of 11 districts of the four NE states including four in Manipur, three in Arunachal Pradesh and two each in Assam and Meghalaya.
The main objective of introducing the project is to improve the livelihood options of economically vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through the promotion of improved livelihood opportunities.
DoNER secretary UK Sangma said that the success to NERCOMP-I & II forced the government to introduce NERCOMP-III in the region. He added that the successful participation of people at the grass root is the key to the success of previous projects.
With the financial involvement of around Rs 540 crores for the 2014-2020, a total of 294 villages including Manipur’s Chandel and Churachandpur districts and AP’s Longding, Tirap and Changlang will be covered under the NERCOMP-III, according to North Eastern Council Secretary, Ameising Luikham.
The project targets the women groups in particular as the ministry is planning to introduce integrated natural resources management plan for a sustainable livelihood in the region,he added.The fund will be monitored by the NERCOMP office in Shillong.
Speaking on the formal launching function, Manipur Chief Minister said,We must work hard to make it successful. I am happy to know that the Project in the earlier phases has helped lift a large number of our families above the poverty line. “I believe that, out of the 86 % of the households covered by the Project, 68% have moved up above the poverty line after implementation of the Project”, says Ibobi. “I think the key to success of the programme lies in the participatory approach which IFAD and NEC- the two promoters of the project have followed.”
Manipur Deputy CM Gaikhangam,health minister Phungzathang, MP Thangso Baite, MLA, Karungthang of Tengnoupal AC, secretaries of DoNER UK Sangma and NEC Ameising Luikham and others also attended the formal launching session.
