Williamnagar – Meghalaya PCS Free Notes

Meghalaya Food Security

Tucked away in the hills of eastern sub-Himalayas is Meghalaya, one of the most beautiful State in the country. Nature has blessed her with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin forests, high plateaus, tumbling waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, meandering streamlets etc.

Emergence of Meghalaya as an Autonomous State on 2nd April 1970 and as a full-fledged State on 21st January 1972 marked the beginning of a new era of the geo-political history of North Eastern India.

The State of Meghalaya is situated on the north east of India. It extends for about 300 kilometres in length and about 100 kilometres in breadth. It is bounded on the north by Goalpara, Kamrup and Nowgong districts, on the east by KarbiAnglong and North Cachar Hills districts, all of Assam, and on the south and west by Bangladesh. Meghalaya Food Security

Meghalaya is subject to vagaries of the monsoon.The average annual rainfall is about 2600 mm over western Meghalaya, between 2500 to 3000 mm over northern Meghalaya and about 4000 mm over south-eastern Meghalaya. There is a great variation of rainfall over central and southern Meghalaya.

Meghalaya is basically an Agricultural State with about 80% of its total population depending entirely on Agriculture for their livelihood.Rainfall varies from place to place and from altitude to altitude. The amount of rainfall over Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram is quite heavy. During the last two decades, it has ranged from 11,995 mm to 14,189 mm in Cherrapunjee and over Mawsynram it was 10,689 mm to 13,802 mm.

The total cropped area in the State has increased by about 42 per cent during the last twenty-five years. Food grain production sector covers an area of over 60 per cent of the total crop area. Besides the major food crops of Rice and Maize, the State is also renowned for its Horticultural crops like Orange, Lemon, Pineapple, Guava, Litchi, Banana, Jack Fruits and Temperate fruits such as Plum, Pear, Peach etc.Potato, Ginger, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Areca nut, Tezpatta, Betelvine, Short-staple cotton, Jute, Mesta, Mustard and Rapseed etc. are some of the important cash crops in the State.

Meghalaya has ranked among the known BIMARU states in the malnutrition index for 2016. According to a report titled ‘Bridging the gap: Tapping the agriculture potential for optimum nutrition’ prepared jointly by ASSOCHAM and EY, seven Indian states which rank high on the malnutrition index are Uttar Pradesh (50.4 per cent) followed by Bihar (49.4 per cent), Jharkhand (47.4 per cent), Chhattisgarh (43 per cent), Meghalaya (42.9 per cent), Gujarat (41.6 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (41.5 per cent). Even among the northeastern states, Meghalaya stood high as far as child undernourishment is concerned. According to National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16), as much as 43.8% of children in Meghalaya have stunted growth, which is also related to the maternal-undernutrition, and 29% are underweight. Low nutritional outcomes can in turn lead to slower development and susceptibility to illness, the effects of which can hamper them throughout their lives, hindering and limiting their potential for growth. While at a glance the situation seems dismal at best, there are glimmers of hope in the offing.

Consistent indications of food shortage or mismanagement of food services emerge especially in Songsak Block, East Garo Hills.

To overcome these difficulties in the state; the state government has taken various steps and launched various schemes and programmes like:-

National Food Security Act:- The state government launched the Food Security Act (FSA) across the State in 2015 under National Food Security Act, 2013. Under the programme, 77.79 per cent rural population and 50.87 per cent urban population will be covered based on the 2011 socio-economic census. under the programme, focus will be given to pregnant mothers and infants from 0-6 years for supplementing their nutritional requirement as per the mandate of the Act.Under NFSA, 2013, a total of 4.22 lakh has been identified as priority households in the State of Meghalaya and 72, 460 household in West Garo Hills district out of which 29,476 is in Tura Sardar Division and 41,984 in Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division.

According to the Act, every person belonging to priority households is entitled to receive 5 kg of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices not exceeding Rs. 3.00 per kg for rice, Rs. 2.00 per kg for wheat and coarse cereals for Rs. 1 per kg.

Integrated Child Development Services:-

It is centrally sponsored scheme and was launched in 1975. ICDS is a unique early childhood development programme aimed at addressing the health, nutrition and development needs of young children, pregnant and nursing mothers. In Meghalaya the first project was launched on an experimental basis at SongsakC&RD Block, East Garo Hills District in the same year. Since then, the Department has come a long way in expanding the ICDS projects to the 39 Community and Rural Development Blocks and 2 Urban ICDS Projects at Shillong and Tura through a network of 5896 Anganwadi Centre.

The scheme has been re-launched in Mission Mode during 2012 as the restructured and strengthened ICDS programme with the vision to ensure holistic physical, psychosocial, cognitive and emotional development of young children under 6 years of age in a nurturing, protective, child friendly and gender sensitive family and community.

The components and core package of services under ICDS are: –

Early Childhood Care, Education & Development (ECCED)
Care & Nutrition Counselling
Health Services
Community Mobilization, Awareness, Advocacy and IEC

The Supplementary Nutrition Programme under ICDS has two components:

Morning snacks & hot cooked meals served daily at the AWC to all children between 3-6 years attending Preschool at AWC for 25 days in a month.
Take Home Ration in the form of RTE Energy Dense Food is given for children 6 months to 3 years and pregnant/lactating mothers.

SCHEMES UNDER ICDS:-

A. Kishori Shakti Yojana – KSY (Adolescent Girls Scheme):-It aims at improving the nutritional health status of the adolescent girls by promoting awareness of health, hygiene, nutritional and family care. The activities also link with learning life skill and steps to become productive member. Under the scheme, unmarried BPL and school drop outs adolescent Girls in the age group 11-18 years are selected and attached to the local Anganwadi Centres for monthly sitting of learning and training activities.This scheme is fully state funded scheme.

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)-SABLA:- The objective of the scheme is to:

Enable self-development and empowerment of Adolescent Girls
Improve their Nutrition and Health Status
Spread awareness among them about Health, Hygiene, Nutrition, Adolescent

Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) and Family and Childcare

Upgrade their Home-based Skills, Life Skills and Vocational Skills
Mainstream out of School Adolescent Girls into Formal/ Non Formal-Education and
Inform and guide them about existing public services, such as PHC, CHC, Post

Office, Bank, Police Station etc.

C. Indira Gandhi MatritavaSehyogYojana (IGMSY) – Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) Scheme:-It is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented in the State as a pilot project in 1 (one) District i.e. in East Garo Hills, Williamnagar with 100% financial assistance from the Govt. ofIndia. Under this scheme, pregnant and nursing mothers are provided maternity benefits. During 2013-14, the Govt. of India, to bring the amount of maternity benefit at par with the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013, enhanced the rate from Rs.4000/- to Rs.6000.

Further, the Govt. of India introduced the financial sharing pattern during 2015-16 i.e. 90:10.

3. SampoornaGrameenRozgarYojana (SGRY):-

The primary objective of the Scheme is to provide additional wage employment in all rural areas and thereby provide food security and improve nutritional levels. The secondary objective is the creation of a durable community, social and economic assets and infrastructural development in rural areas.

But even after decades of government efforts have not yielded the desired result in terms of social security indicators and nutrition status in the state. The government can take the following steps to further improve these indicators.

Way forward:-

A community headman in ShillongUrban, also recommended a change in the food items to include more bengal gram, kidney beans, eggs and other high nutrition components. These should be considered by the government.
There were concerns too about instances of low and irregular supplies.
A lady supervisor from East Garo Hills, a functionary of the Department of Social Welfare, lamented the lack of locally grown, organically produced fruit and vegetables on the menu, something that would get children used to eating high-quality produce.
Provide a reliable source of income to local cultivators to boottheir income.
Not just the nutrition component but the ICDS scheme itself, with its focus on universalisation and strengthening of its programmes through community involvement, geared towards the welfare of vulnerable sections of the population, can benefit from new localised solutions.
At the same time, it must be remembered that ICDS is not just about getting a free meal – it’s about ensuring a more holistic development, be that nutritional, educational or in terms of medical help, for the generations to come.

Meghalaya Schemes & Projects

Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS):

The Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) is being implemented across the state of Meghalaya by the government. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial aid to all the citizens of the state at the time of hospitalization. The policy period of insurance is only one year but it can be renewed by making payment of the insurance premium.

The state government is providing a universal health insurance to all citizens of the State under Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). All the citizens can enroll in the scheme but they have to pay some nominal amount as the enrollment fee to avail the scheme benefits. This scheme is being implemented through New India Assurance Company Ltd.

The state government under the phase 3 of Megha Health Insurance Scheme has been increased to Rs. 2,80,000 for up to 5 members of the family on floater basis. The maximum one time hospitalization for critical care has also been increased to Rs 250000 from Rs 170000. The enrollment fee for MHIS phase 3 is Rs. 50 Rupees and does not have any age limit. The smart cards issued under the scheme can be used to avail free and cashless treatment at all government hospitals and empaneled private health institutions.

New Shillong Township :

This scheme is aimed at taking up infrastructure development works at New Shillong Township. To accommodate the future population of Shillong, proposal for setting up of a new township designed for 2,00,000 population was conceived by the department. An area of 2030 hectares has been identified to the East of the Shillong city. It is proposed to develop the township as a joint venture involving both Government and Private initiative. Government intervention is restricted to acquiring and developing 500 hectares of land while in the remaining areas only the bulk infrastructure will be laid by the Government. As of date,370.26 hectares of land has already been acquired. Detailed Project Report (D.P.R.) of the different sectors like road, power, water supply, sewerage and drainage etc. has been prepared and ready for implementation.

Environmental Improvement Of Urban Slum (E.I.U.S.) :

The Environmental Improvement of Urban slums scheme which is a part of the 20 Point Programme is being implemented in the Slum areas of Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Baghmara, Williamnagar and Nongstoin. The scheme has played a significant and satisfying role in the improvement of slum areas in the above towns. Basic amenities like drains, footpaths, sanitation facilities, drinking water, water supply etc. have been provided under the scheme. The Scheme is being implemented by the Office of the Executive Engineer, Urban Affairs in the respective towns.

Housing For All (Urban) Mission :

The scheme was launched on 25th June 2015 with an objective to provide rehabilitation of slum dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a source, to promote affordable housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy, to provide affordable housing in partnership with public and private sectors and to provide subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction. 10 statutory towns in the State have been included under the programme which include as follows- Shillong Municpal Board(S.M.B.), Shillong Cantonment Board(C.B.), Shillong Urban Agglomeration Area (only Census Towns excluding S.M.B. area),Tura, Jowai, Baghmara, Williamnagar, Resubelpara, Mairang, Nongstoin ,Nongpoh. Currently Demand Survey is being carried out in all the topwns to assess the housing demand and requirement.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is a flagship scheme of Narendra Modi government under which skill development training is provided to youth in different verticals. The government is providing skill training in different industry verticals through authorized training centers across the country.

As per 23rd March 2017, there are a total of 2150 PMKVY training centers operating across the country for providing skill training to youth. These training centers are operated by different authorized training partners of PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana

44 Lakh Homes Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana:

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin targets for 2017 has been revised by the central government after the announcement made by PM Narendra Modi in his 31st December Speech. The government has increased the overall number of housing units to be constructed by 1 Crore under the PMAY-G.

The central government has set a target of building 44 Lakh homes under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin by the end of December 2017. According to the statistics released by Ministry of Rural Development, about 22 Lakh houses have been constructed in rural areas under PMAY-G till 28th January. The ministry will complete the construction of 1 Crore 33 Lakh houses in three years from 2016-17 to 2018-19 which also includes 33 Lakh homes under previous Indira Awas Yojana.

List of Airports Under UDAN Scheme (Udey Desh Ka Aam Nagrik):

UDAN Scheme, the regional air connectivity scheme recently launched by the central government to make the air travel cheaper has started to see the sun of the day. According to industry chamber FICCI, about 44 airports across the country has the potential to execute operations under the scheme.

The list of 44 out of 414 underserved and unserved airports has been prepared based upon geographical, operational and commercial parameters which has potential to be part of regional connectivity scheme UDAN. The report also mentions the list of around 370 potential destinations for the shortlisted airports, including metros, state capitals and important commercial, industrial and tourism centers. Shillong and Tura of Meghalaya is proposed for the Airport under this scheme.

Swachh Bharat Mission :-

This is a newly launched programme of Ministry of Urban Development which was launched on 2nd October 2014 with a target date to achieve all objectives by the 2nd October, 2019. The Mission was also formally launched in the State of Meghalaya on the 2nd October, 2014. 10 statutory towns in the State have been included under the programme which include as follows- Shillong Municpal Board(S.M.B.), Shillong Cantonment Board(C.B.), Shillong Urban Agglomeration Area (only Census Towns excluding S.M.B. area),Tura, Jowai, Baghmara, Williamnagar, Resubelpara, Mairang, Nongstoin ,Nongpoh. The Mission is being implemented by the Municipal Boards in Municipal Towns and the respective Deputy Commissioner in Non-Municipal Towns.