Mokokchung, October 8 (MTNews): The Chief Operating Officer (COO-Program) Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) under Rural Development Department, Rollan Lotha visited Mopungchuket village under RD block Kubolong on October 3, 2022 while on October 6, he visited the villages of Longkhum, Mangmetong, Aliba and Khensa under RD block Ongpangkong South. He was accompanied by the ADPM Mokokchung Moatoshi; BPM Ongpangkong south Imkongtoshi; and Block staff.
The COO inspected the Shitaki mushroom cultivation which is taken up as an Income Generating Activity by the NSRLM supported Self Help Groups (SHG) within the Block.
“Shitaki cultivation is yet at a nascent stage for mass production and consumption with huge market potential at both domestic and international markets,” he said and encouraged the block to form a ‘producers group’ and to maintain consistency in its production.
The COO also visited various other activities which were taken up by SHG members such as weaving unit, poultry unit, tailoring unit and a tea stall business. These activities were reportedly taken up by SHG members after taking Community Investment Fund (CIF) loans from the Village Level Organization (VLO) of their respective villages.
Motivating the efforts of the SHG members, the COO urged them to think beyond subsidies and said that “Naga people’s dependence and expectations of such grants are crippling their very own environment for healthy growth of the activities and businesses they take up”.
He acknowledged the sincerity of the block staff and further encouraged the livelihood staffs to strengthen on documentation of all the livelihoods activities taken up by the SHGs and form producers groups to achieve Local self sufficiency.
He in conclusion pressed upon continuity of “hand holding support and nurturing of the SHGs” which, according to him, is a core quality a NSRLM staff imbibes.
