Meghalaya farmers
Representative photo of Meghalaya farmers. Image credit- The Better India

The Meghalaya government has decided to constitute the Meghalaya Farmers Empowerment Commission for the benefit of farmers in the state.

The proposal to set up the commission was approved by the state cabinet during its meeting chaired by chief minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday.

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Deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the government would frame rules on how the commission should function and the terms of reference of the commission.

It will be headed by a chairman along with members.

The commission will be a platform for farmers to submit their grievances, said Tynsong adding that the commission would have discussions with experts on the subject of agriculture.

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Tynsong said the decision to have a farmers’ commission in the state was taken during the first farmers’ parliament last year, and it was also decided that 2019 should be declared as the ‘year of farmers’.

Tynsong said that this year, it is not possible to do so, and the government would try to declare 2020 as the ‘year of farmers’.

The government has also decided to rename the directorate of agriculture (research and training) as the directorate of agriculture (research and training and technology induction).

Meghalaya Transport Dept to have more enforcement inspectors, checkers

The proposal of the transport department to engage six enforcement inspectors and 15 enforcement checkers on contract basis was also approved by the cabinet.

The proposal of the social welfare department to have a mission director for the state resource centre on women was also approved.

Moreover, the state cabinet has approved the service rules of the directorate of programme implementation.

It was also decided to repeal the Meghalaya services (conduct) rules, 1990 and the Meghalaya services (discipline and appeal) rules, 2011 and bring new rules along with amendments.

The state cabinet also approved the draft Meghalaya State Policy for Empowerment of People with Disabilities as provided in the national policy to increase job reservation for person with disabilities from 3 to 4 per cent and 5 per cent reservation for education.