Conrad K Sangma, the Meghalaya CM announced on Friday that the NPP-led MDA government has launched FOCUS, an innovative inclusive farmers' welfare initiative that would help over 4.5 lakh farmers in the state. He stated that the state government devised the scheme after considering the economic hardships that the farming community had to endure as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. He said that under this initiative, farmers are put together as 'Producers Groups,' and each member of the group receives Rs 5000 in financial aid. He stated that the funds might be utilised as seed money to expand farming operations. For this inclusive farmers initiative, an estimated Rs. 200 crore has been set aside. The Chief Minister has visited numerous districts and blocks across the state in the previous three months. On Friday, at the FOCUS event in Chokpot, the Chief Minister gave Rs 1.2 crore in cheques to 170 producer groups to help them develop their farming and economic activities. The Chief Minister also attended the SHG Mela at the same venue, where he gave Rs 1.001 crore in cash aid to 29 local organisations and SHGs. He noted that the MDA Government is delighted to support the women-led SHG movement, which is empowering entrepreneurial women at the level. He went on to say that the government has offered a number of funding alternatives to encourage entrepreneurial activity, including interest-free loans. He pushed the public to take advantage of the government's welfare measures and encouraged people to form self-help organisations and cooperative societies to profit from the initiatives. He stated that the government's welfare programmes are aimed at improving overall farming activities, farmers' sustainable income, and marketing connections, as well as ensuring that the state's agri and horti goods are promoted and sold for maximum benefit. Germany Chancellor Scholz mulls easing Covid-19 measures Pregnant woman dies after injection, angry family creates ruckus After hijab, insistence on 'namaz' in schools .., outrage among people after the video went viral"