GUWAHATI:
As many as 800 activists of A’chik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum (AIJIF), Northern Zone and Dainadubi Circle Youth Organisation (DCYO) took to the street against the Meghalaya government’s move for private investment in the state-run Fruit Preservation Centre at Dainadubi in North Garo Hills on September 13.
The protestors took out a rally from Bangsi Playground at 11.30 am by shouting slogans against the MDA government for inviting private investment for the profit-making factory.
The protestors also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma demanding the cancellation of the Expression if Interest for Operation and Maintenance of Fruit Preservation Centre at Dainadubi in a Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode.
The protesters also demanded a high-level probe into anomalies in funds received by the centre from the state government since 2012.
On January 28, the state government published an Expression of Interest has been issued inviting applications from interested and eligible agencies from the state for the operation and maintenance of the Centre.
“Agencies which imply NPOs/NGOs, SHGs and local enterprises dealing with the agriculture/horticulture and its allied sector with an interest to operate and maintain this food/fruit state-owned processing unit in Private Public Partnership mode are invited to submit their applications based on the terms of reference,” the EoI stated.
Set up in 1964, the unit is run by the Directorate of Food Processing under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The unit is supported by 9 technical staff and 26 labourers/support staff.
The total area of the Centre is 21,266.61 sq m and the Centre also has adequate water supply necessary for processing activities.
There is also a Processing Plant of 30 TPA capacity in operation.
“However, the unit lies in a miserable state of affairs due to negligence and carelessness. Now the Meghalaya government is going to hand over the unit to a private sector unit under Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode,” said Gilsang D Shira, president, DCYO.
“Logistically the Fruit Preservation Centre at Dainadubi is at an advantageous location and it is situated along the Assam- Meghalaya Border at NH 62 (E) and it is well connected to the source of raw material inputs (fruits) and also to markets in the Garo Hills as well as to Assam,” Shira said.
“North Garo Hills is the northernmost part of the Garo Hills region and is the gateway to the Garo Hills as it shares a long border with the neighbouring Assam. The district is also connected by railway to the rest of the country,” Shira also said.
“The scenario of fruit processing in Meghalaya is more or less discouraging and has received little attention. The opportunity gap, with little effect, can be filled to a great extent with research and extension activities in the region. Despite the excellent market potential and higher profit margin on fruit and vegetable-based products, rural masses show little interest in this sector due lack of awareness about the rich potential of the fruits preservation industry for employment and economic uplift of the region,” the memorandum addressed to the chief minister said.
“So, we urged the Meghalaya government to revoke the tender of expression of interest for operation and maintenance of Fruit Preservation Centre in a PPP mode in the long-term,” the memorandum signed by AIJIF president Chingsrang D Sangma and DCYO president Gilsang D Shira said.
“There is also misuse of funds by the centre received from the state government which is revealed by an RTI document. The state government sanctioned Rs 3.68 crore from 2012-2013 to 2021-2022 and the department deposited Rs 51.31 lakh by selling its products. The role of the government is also mysterious,” the memorandum further said.
“They seem to be the only ones not knowing about this and failed to take any step even after the Fruit Preservation Centre ran in loss besides having lots of scopes to bring the unit in profits. The government rather ignores it and is also involved with the officials,” it said.
“We demand a high-level probe into the misuse of funds in the centre,” Shira added.