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Department:
Information & Public Relations Department
Title: Historic Catchment Protection MoUs Signed for Ganol and Umiew; ₹ 28 Crore FOCUS Plus Assistance Released
Press Release Number:
22/09/2026
Description:
Addressing a gathering at Integrated Partners’ Support and Engagement Programme at Tura, the Chief Minister stated that although the catchment protection legislation dates back decades, it required the understanding and permission of local communities to take effect, a threshold that had never been met since 1990.
“Today's MoU signing marks a historic breakthrough, with communities formally coming forward to partner with the Government in protecting vital catchment areas”, he said, while terming the singing of the MOU as critical to Meghalaya's fight against climate change, given the state records nearly 50% of the country's highest rainfall and is already witnessing visible climate impacts.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also released the first installment of 2026 FOCUS Plus, transferring ₹ 2,500 each to 1,14,000 beneficiaries statewide, a total of ₹ 28 crore. This covers 1,04,000 existing beneficiaries and 10,000 newly registered families.
Registration remains open on a continuous basis, with the Government's goal of ensuring one member from every eligible family receives FOCUS Plus benefits.
The Chief Minister also handed over MegArise Community Awards, and flagged off the AGEY vehicles for SHGs under MSRLS.
Under FOCUS Plus, an annual untied grant of ₹ 5,000 per farming household is credited directly to the beneficiary’s bank account in two tranches of ₹ 2,500. The amount can be used by the household for any farming or production related activity, seed, feed, planting material or equipment, at the point in the season when it matters
“Today's MoU signing marks a historic breakthrough, with communities formally coming forward to partner with the Government in protecting vital catchment areas”, he said, while terming the singing of the MOU as critical to Meghalaya's fight against climate change, given the state records nearly 50% of the country's highest rainfall and is already witnessing visible climate impacts.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also released the first installment of 2026 FOCUS Plus, transferring ₹ 2,500 each to 1,14,000 beneficiaries statewide, a total of ₹ 28 crore. This covers 1,04,000 existing beneficiaries and 10,000 newly registered families.
Registration remains open on a continuous basis, with the Government's goal of ensuring one member from every eligible family receives FOCUS Plus benefits.
The Chief Minister also handed over MegArise Community Awards, and flagged off the AGEY vehicles for SHGs under MSRLS.
Under FOCUS Plus, an annual untied grant of ₹ 5,000 per farming household is credited directly to the beneficiary’s bank account in two tranches of ₹ 2,500. The amount can be used by the household for any farming or production related activity, seed, feed, planting material or equipment, at the point in the season when it matters
Released Date:
22 Sep 2026
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