KOLORIANG, Aug 19: 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 here on Monday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Cheechung Chukhu.
The meeting was convened by the District Mission Management Unit (DMMU), Ziro, Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), bringing together ZPMs and PRI 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.
Presenting the district's progress under the initiative, District Thematic Coordinator (Livelihood), DMMU Ziro, Nyakni Hai, highlighted the need to bridge the gap between identified potential Lakhpati Didis and women achieving an annual household income of Rs 1 lakh or more through sustainable livelihood activities.
He called for maximum convergence of Govt schemes and departmental resources, including subsidies, technical training, capacity building, financial linkages, grading and sorting support, market access and livelihood infrastructure. He urged departments to provide coordinated and time-bound assistance to women Self Help Group (SHG) members so that identified potential Lakhpati Didis can attain the target at the earliest.
Responding to the presentation, the Deputy Commissioner directed all line departments to extend applicable schemes, subsidised support, technical assistance, training, financial linkages and market access to identified SHG members on priority. He emphasised that convergence among departments should be treated as a shared district priority for sustainable economic empowerment of rural women.
The committee discussed several potential livelihood activities, including fruit-processing and pickle-making units, vermicompost production and Custom Hiring Centres. The scope and challenges of drone-based agriculture were also discussed, including the high initial investment and requirement of specialised operator training.
The meeting also discussed livelihood infrastructure support under VB-G-RAM-G, particularly for market and vermicompost projects through village-level and Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) planning.
KVK representatives highlighted the importance of scientific testing, frontline demonstrations, research and reliable field-level data. Members also discussed value addition by women producer groups through improved drying, temperature control, processing, preservation and packaging techniques, as well as opportunities in secondary agriculture, food processing, crop disease management and high-altitude crop trials.
The District Planning Officer apprised the committee of possible funding avenues under RIDF/NABARD, the North Eastern Council and other pooled Ministry schemes for addressing livelihood and infrastructure gaps.
Zilla Parishad members stressed the need for CLF representatives to share SHG plans with PRI representatives ahead of GPDP and Gram Sabha processes so that women's livelihood priorities can be incorporated into grassroots development planning.
The committee decided to hold DLSC review meetings on a quarterly basis to monitor progress and strengthen inter-departmental convergence.
Concluding the meeting, the DC reiterated the district administration's commitment to achieving the Lakhpati Didi targets in Kurung Kumey through sustained convergence and coordinated support for the economic empowerment of rural women.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr Onam Nayam, District Mission Manager, DMMU Ziro, ArSRLM.