UN body plan to uplift upland peasants of NE

GUWAHATI, April 4 ? The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialised agency of the United Nations with the specific mandate of combating hunger and poverty in the most disadvantaged regions of the world, has undertaken several projects in the North East. One of its projects is the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP) and is being implemented under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is aimed specifically at the uplift of the vulnerable upland farmers of the north-eastern India. The areas of operation in the North East are West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts in Meghalaya, North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts in Assam, Senapati and Ukhrul districts in Manipur. Since 1978, IFAD has financed 578 projects in 115 countries, allocating almost US $ 7 billion in the form of loans and grants. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have had a chance to move out of poverty.

Mentionably, a public reception was organized on April 2, at Don Bosco Technical School auditorium to felicitate Phrang Roy who has recently taken over as Assistant President of IFAD last month. The joint reception was organized by the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP), Bosco Reach Out (BRO), Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod SELDA (KJPSSELDA) and Seng Khasi, stated a release.

Phrang Roy?s promotion equates him with an Assistant Secretary General in the UN system. Before taking over as the Assistant President of IFAD, Roy was the Director for its Asia and Pacific Division and is based in Rome. He has taken charge of IFAD?s Economic Policy and Resource Mobilization division. His selection was officially announced after the meeting of the IFAD Governing Council, and after stiff competition from more than 500 other applicants for the post from other various UN and international agencies.

Roy from Meghalaya is the first and only tribal from around the world to ever reach this post. He is also the first and only staff member of IFAD to be ever selected to this high profile political position of the United Nations. It is indeed a privilege and an honour not only to the community that Roy belongs to but to the entire NE region that one of her sons has been able to reach such heights in the international arena. It is an example of what one can achieve through determination and perseverance, the release added.

In recognition of Roy?s commendable contribution to the international community and the north eastern region in particular, the NERCRMP, BRO, KJPS-SELDA and Seng Khasi organized the public reception to welcome and honour him.