RGVN, the premier development support organization working for the upliftment of the poor in the North East and Eastern India, sanctioned Rs 36 lakh to NGOs/SHG for innovative agriculture and microfinance projects on November 13 last. Together with the sanction of Rs 44 lakh in August '06, the total amount sanctioned in NER amounts to Rs. 80.9017 lakh for the period April to November '06. Dr Amiya Sharma, executive director RGVN said that it had been necessary to sanction agriculture and microfinance projects to the poor at a time when the State was undergoing severe drought. He felt that timely disbursal of funds to such projects would help alleviate the problems of the people.