KOLORIANG, AUG 17:
The first meeting of the District Level Steering Committee (DLSC) for the Lakhpati Didi Initiative in Kurung Kumey district was held at the DC Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat, Koloriang, on Wednesday, with the district administration calling for greater convergence among departments to economically empower rural women.
The meeting was chaired by Kurung Kumey Deputy Commissioner Cheechung Chukhu and convened by the District Mission Management Unit (DMMU), Ziro, of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), following directions of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
Zilla Parishad members, Panchayati Raj representatives, heads of Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development and Planning departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) officials, Cluster Level Federation (CLF) representatives, Lakhpati Didi beneficiaries and officials of DMMU Ziro and the Block Mission Management Units (BMMUs) of Kurung Kumey attended the meeting.
Presenting the district’s progress, DMMU Ziro District Thematic Coordinator (Livelihood) Nyakni Hai highlighted the need to bridge the livelihood and convergence gaps faced by Self-Help Group (SHG) members identified as potential Lakhpati Didis. He urged line departments to provide maximum convergence support through applicable schemes, subsidies, technical training, capacity building, financial linkages, grading and sorting facilities, market access and infrastructure.
Hai called for coordinated and time-bound departmental interventions under the DLSC to help identified SHG members achieve sustainable annual household incomes of Rs 1 lakh or more.
Deputy Commissioner Cheechung Chukhu endorsed the appeal and directed line departments to extend eligible schemes and support to SHG members on priority. The committee discussed convergence possibilities under ongoing schemes, including agriculture support, fruit-processing and pickle-making units, vermicompost production and Custom Hiring Centres.
The meeting also discussed the potential and challenges of drone-based agriculture, including its high investment requirement and the need for operator training. Livelihood infrastructure support under VB-G and RAM-G was also discussed for market and vermicompost projects through village and Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) processes.
KVK representatives highlighted the importance of field-level data, farmer feedback, frontline demonstrations and stronger coordination with SHGs for effective research and extension. Members also discussed value addition, improved drying and processing techniques, packaging, crop disease management, food processing and high-altitude crop trials suited to the district.
District Planning Officer apprised the committee of possible funding avenues under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), NABARD, North Eastern Council and other Ministry schemes for addressing livelihood and infrastructure gaps. Zilla Parishad members stressed the need for CLF leaders to share SHG priorities with Panchayati Raj representatives ahead of GPDP and Gram Sabha processes to ensure their inclusion in grassroots planning.
The committee decided to hold DLSC review meetings quarterly to monitor progress. The Deputy Commissioner reiterated the district administration’s commitment to achieving the Lakhpati Didi targets through sustained inter-departmental convergence and economic empowerment of rural women.
