MDS highlights
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, May 04 2018: The main objective of the Manipur Development Society (MDS) is to bring about a comprehensive all round development in rural areas.

The schemes implemented by the society are in addition to the normal schemes of the concerned Government departments, said MDS Administrative Officer Sougrakpam Ranjit.

Manipur Development Society was setup in the year 1983 under the Planning Commission of India to generate employment in the field of handloom, agriculture and engineering covering mostly rural areas in the valley and hill areas of the State, he told media persons at a press meet held today at the Moirangkhom complex of DIPR.

MDS has been actively participating in bringing about all round development in the State by taking up schemes for construction of social infrastructure such as community hall, bus waiting shed, pay and use toilets, multipurpose hall, irrigation canal and ring bunds.

MDS has also been working to generate employment and promote handloom industry through handloom production centres/self help groups, skill development training, provision of looms and accessories at subsidized rates and working capital in the form of raw materials.

Handloom items are directly marketed by MDS through its retail outlets, mobile vans, exhibitions and bulk sales to Government and bulk buyers.

The society organises training on basic skills on handloom for primary weavers.

It also has started providing skill development and upgradation programme for die traditional weavers of the State, Ranjit said.

The schemes taken up under agriculture programme are promotion of collective farming, farmers awareness programme and programme implementation.

Promotion of collective farming emphasises on intensive cropping and area expansion of fallow lands for paddy cultivation by providing inputs and technical support.

The programme is implemented in compact areas of not less than 4 to 5 hectares each for winter crops and 2 hectares for summer crops.

The main objective is to provide employment to small and marginal farmers of the State.

The society provides agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, chemicals etc.

Under the farmers awareness programme, farmers are trained in modern agricultural practice and technology by providing basic concept of soil conservation, water management, pest control and management.

Agriculture being the main economic activity of the State, MDS has been actively participating in this process by providing agriculture infrastructure in the form of mid size irrigation facilities by constructing small and medium size multipurpose irrigation tanks, canals and ring bunds etc.

Market sheds have also been introduced to provide market facilities and fill the gap between producers and buyers.

The scheme has benefited quite a lot of farmers and traders operating in rural and semi urban areas, claimed the Administrative Officer.

Some of the major deposit works taken up by MDS under the funding of State and Central Governments are development of infrastructure in 27 TD blocks, infrastructure development of National Sports Academy at Khuman Lampak, district sports complexes, construction of tourist infrastructure under Tourism Department with funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt, of India, construction of cricket stadium and tensile roofing at Luwangsangbam, construction of tribal markets and hostel for TD & Hills Department.

Construction of nursing hostel, district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, PHSCs and other infrastructure for Health, Ayush and Family Welfare Department, construction of godown for FCI in Churachandpur and Thoubal districts are some other activities of MDS, he added.

The press conference was also attended by Salam Rajkumar Singh, Project Director cum Chief Engineer, S Janmanjoy Singh, Deputy Director (Agriculture), N Rajmani Singh, Deputy Director (Handloom) and Dr N Rojendro Singh (AE) .

Comment