Hailakandi, Assam: Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, on Tuesday spotlighted women-run tofu production units in Hailakandi as a shining example of rural economic upliftment under the Aspirational District Programme. Her visit to the district underscored the central government’s commitment to fostering grassroots entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
The Minister’s itinerary included a significant stop at the Tofu Production Centre in Gagalachharra, Lalamukh Gram Panchayat. Here, women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are operating six units under the brand name Dhaleswari. These units, three each at Gagalachharra and Barni Bridge, Mohanpur, are collectively churning out an impressive 600 kilograms of tofu daily and providing direct employment to 60 local women. Bambhaniya was effusive in her praise for the initiative, hailing it as a testament to successful community-driven livelihood generation and urging for its replication across other regions.
Beyond the tofu units, the Minister undertook a comprehensive review of various development initiatives in the district. She inspected critical health and education infrastructure, including the New Primary Health Centre at Gharmura and the Laxminagar Tea Estate Model High School. During these visits, she assessed the quality of services and strongly advocated for greater community engagement in public schemes and efforts to ensure better retention of students in schools.
Her interaction with children and parents at Sultanicherra’s Sultani Model Anganwadi Centre was marked by an emphasis on ensuring widespread access to welfare benefits. Later, at Kuchila, Bambhaniya reviewed the Agriculture Department’s Soil Testing Laboratory, which has already analysed over 28,000 soil samples and issued vital Soil Health Cards to local farmers, a move aimed at promoting scientific farming practices.
A visit to the Oil Palm Seed Nursery near the Assam–Manipur border further highlighted the government’s push for agri-based income generation. This sprawling 10-bigha nursery is envisioned as a catalyst for promoting oil palm cultivation, thereby offering a lucrative revenue stream for farmers in the region.
The Minister’s packed schedule concluded with an inspection of an Animal Sub-Centre in Kuchila. This ₹28-lakh project is a boon for 23 surrounding villages, providing essential veterinary services, including artificial insemination and vaccinations, directly to the farmers’ doorstep. Throughout her extensive tour, Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Hivare Nisarg Gautam and other senior departmental officials accompanied the Minister, providing detailed updates on the implementation progress of various local projects.
Read More: Nagaland: CTAN-NNQF Escalates Stir as Government Stays Mum on 147 Posts