SHILLONG, Oct 6 � The Meghalaya Government today asked the Central Government officials �not to visit the State and waste their time� if New Delhi is unable to provide grants for the food processing sector.
�There is no point for you (Central Government officials) to come here to the State and waste your and our time if the Central Government cannot provide funds,� Robinus Syngkon, Parliamentary Secretary, Horticulture Department, said.
He made the remark at a gathering of Central, State Government officials and also entrepreneurs from the region during the inauguration of the North East Food Processing Conclave here.
The Parliamentary Secretary was referring to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries� (MoFPI) decision to delink the Centrally-sponsored scheme � National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) � from this year.
Syngkon said the Central Government�s decision to stop funding of the Centrally-sponsored scheme has hit the food processing sector in the State. �This (stoppage of Central grant) has stopped progress of setting up of food processing industries in the State. I would request the Centre to reconsider bringing out the National Mission on Food Processing again. As in a short time it has proved to be very effective in promoting food processing industries in the State,� he said.
He also informed the gathering about the State�s financial health and added that due to ban on mining activities in the State in the past year, there was hardly any revenue generation.
On Meghalaya�s potential, he said, �Food processing industries, based on agricultural and horticultural produce, offer a significant potential for growth and development, considering the vast resource base available.�
