Hekani Jakhalu and other officials with some of the beneficiaries in Kohima on March 11.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 11
Nagaland Industries & Commerce Advisor Hekani Jakhalu today released the second phase of Seed Capital distribution under the PMFME scheme. A total of Rs 8,46,07,628 was released to 679 Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Nagaland for the financial year 2025-26. Through the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, this Seed Capital Money has been released under the CSS-Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. The Department of Industries & Commerce is the Nodal Agency for PMFME Scheme.
In a function held at the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kohima, Jakhalu handed over the sanction documents to the officials of the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY- NULM).
This package will benefit 2385 SHG members across the state.
With a total Seed Capital Money of Rs 7,28,87,728 for beneficiaries under NSRLM, it will benefit 627 SHG Enterprises, consisting 2086 SHG members.
Rs 1,17,20,000 is for beneficiaries under DAY-NULM, which will benefit 52 SHG Enterprises, comprising 299 SHG members.
In the first phase, a total amount of Rs 6,90,30,946 was released during the financial years 2022–23 to 2024–25, benefitting 1167 SHG Enterprises and 3797 SHG members.
‘No more free money’
Addressing the gathering, Jakhalu said that both the NSRLM and DAY- NULM are going to empower the SHGs at the grassroots level through this convergence initiative.
If anything has to change, it has to be at the grassroots level, she said and hoped that the SHGs will not only earn their livelihood through this package (capital seed money) but also learn how to do business. “The government, unlike those days, where anything and everything was free, today, there is no free money,” she said
“There is no more free money, no more subsidies,” she said adding that there are ample of opportunities for those who genuinely work.
She urged upon the beneficiaries to make sure that the provided package is utilised well.
Stating that the Ministry will keep tracking on the performance, she said “If the report is not good, then the next funding stops. But if we perform well, then, automatically more funding keep on flowing into the state.”
Further, Jakhalu stressed on the need to make Nagaland an economically viable and economically developed state.
Mhasiphizo Khezhie, Department Nodal Officer for PMFME scheme highlighted the status report.
Kumar Ramnikant, secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of Industries & Commerce, M Roland Lotha, Chief Operating Officer, NSRLM and Petevilie Khatsu, State Mission director NULM also spoke at the programme.
The programme was chaired by Er Y Lipongse Thongtsar, Additional Director of Industries & Commerce while P Tokugha Sema, Director, Industries & Commerce delivered welcome address.
Vote of thanks was proposed Zakielatuo Yiese, Deputy Director (Food Processing).
