Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated 125 community centres across Garo Hills under the Meghalaya Livelihood and Forest Ecosystem Management Project (MegLIFE) on Tuesday.
The initiative, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to enhance community-based forest management and improve rural livelihoods.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Speaker Thomas K. Sangma, Ministers Marcuise Marak, Rakkam A. Sangma, Abu Taher Mondal, and several MLAs, was conducted virtually from Dobakol Awemong in the South Garo Hills. The Chief Minister was present at the venue to oversee the event.
Each community centre was constructed at a cost of ₹24 lakh, with ₹13 lakh contributed by the MegLIFE project and ₹11 lakh from the state government.
The centres are designed to serve as hubs for community activities, including income-generating initiatives.
The MegLIFE project operates in 500 villages across 12 districts of Meghalaya, focusing on restoring degraded forests, strengthening natural resource management, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
In addition to the community centres, the project has introduced various initiatives, including nurseries, plantations, minor irrigation check dams, dug-out ponds, and water storage solutions like RCC tanks and plastic reservoirs.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasised the project’s role in empowering communities to manage their forest, land, and water resources.
“Through the MegLIFE project, we are fostering environmental consciousness and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for rural communities,” he said.
He further highlighted the goal of promoting community-driven interventions for sustainable development.
The project aims to construct a total of 452 community centres across Meghalaya, with more than 150 additional centres planned for Garo Hills.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to JICA for its support and underlined the significance of these centres in advancing community development and fostering livelihood initiatives.
The event also featured virtual interactions between the vhief minister and members of the community, who shared their experiences and aspirations for the future under the MegLIFE initiative.
