Shillong, Aug 15: The Government is committed to address and resolve the long pending contentious issues of Inter-State Boundary dispute pertaining to the areas of difference with Assam and the issue of influx and illegal immigration.
While the Government will continue to proactively engage at the political level for resolution of the Inter-State Boundary dispute acceptable to the people of the State, regular discussion and engagement at the level of the senior officers of both the States and the Districts are continuing.
The State Government has rolled out a new scheme – “The Inter-State Border Area Development Programme” to attend to the felt developmental needs of the people.
Government has set priority in resolving the issue of influx and illegal immigration and to achieve the desired objective of protecting the interest of our indigenous population and create a conducive environment for the mutual co-existence with bonafide residents belonging to the other communities.
A comprehensive mechanism to deal with this issue effectively will be put in place at the earliest. Different Government machineries have been geared up to accomplish this objective.
I would like to place on record a deep sense of appreciation to the Civil Society Organizations who have been productively engaging with the Government in structuring appropriate, implementable and comprehensive mechanism which is expected to be much more effective than the Inner Line Permit System under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.
I sincerely appeal to all the eminent citizens of the State and all the stakeholders to extend the necessary cooperation and support to the Government in this endeavour.
Our State, like all other States of the North East had to bear the brunt of the Post Independence partition. Sudden dislocation of the earlier vibrant trade and commerce activities of the people of the region had substantial impact in negating the growth and prosperity in the region.
This historical backdrop resulting in limited resource base for the State aggravated by political instability in the preceding years have truncated the progress and prosperity of the State.
This has resulted in not only in loss of opportunities for the people but also crippled the State from creating further sustainable opportunities for the new generation.
However, the State Government with various new interventions on the developmental front and generous support of the Union Government have been able to make a visible difference in respect of development across all sectors.
My Government is sincerely attempting to leverage upon the milestones achieved by the successive State Governments and the untapped potentialities of our human and natural resources.
The different new and ambitious developmental initiatives of this Government are designed to truly enable our people particularly the youth to realize their dreams commensurating to the potentialities of our people and the land.
Despite the multi-faceted challenges that we faced, effective implementation of all the new initiatives with full commitment and dedication by all concerned will create visibility of the programmes on the ground and generate hope amongst all sections of people.
Our new approach to governance by promoting convergence of all line departments and partnership building with the stakeholders is designed to make a difference in the life of every citizen of the State.
Appropriate format to roll out various interventions under the flagship programmes of the State. The Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP) have been put in place to generate sustainable livelihood for the people across the State.
The outlay for the State approved by the Planning Commission during the 12th Plan is Rs.22,000 crore. Focus is given on reaching out to citizens, conducting need assessments, building the capacity of Government Departments, creating new institutional framework to support the departments and building partnerships at all levels.
The State is experiencing an unprecedented negative impact of the climate change resulting in less than normal precipitation.
Reportedly, deficiency is to the extent of more than 40% of the normal rainfall.
The situation is particularly serious in the Garo Hills Districts. The Government is closely monitoring the situation and is gearing up the administrative machinery to mitigate any potential farm level distress.
The Mission Green amongst other “Missions” under IBDLP has been launched by the State Government with the objective of enhancing sustainable green cover, adoption of green technologies and building up a green movement in the State in order to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Efforts under the Mission Organic are aimed at giving a boost to production and marketing of organic products from Meghalaya. In order to factor in the issues relating to climate change in the development process, the State Government has formulated a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for the State.
The Asian Development Bank has approved a project, namely, “Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya” which is the first of its kind in the country.
The $100 million loan had been signed between Government of India, the Asian Development Bank and the State Government on 23rd January, 2014.
With a view to enhancing employability and providing placement assistance to the unemployed youth through various Skill Development Programmes, Government has set an ambitious target for skilling 1,95,000 persons during the 12th Plan.
The State Government has initiated a new policy known as the “Green Agriculture” Policy which promotes sustainable agriculture growth through restoration of soil health, improving water use efficiency, reducing chemical pesticide including food spoilage and loss, while at the same time pro actively promote use of eco friendly bio pesticides, biological control, plant growth regulators, amongst others, which are environmentally safe with high potential to transform agriculture towards a low carbon regime. The State Government has sanctioned and initiated mission organic and set an ambitious target to convert the state to organic state within the next ten years.
With the objective to bridge the gap between demand and supply and also to improve the socio-economic condition of the rural population, the State Fisheries sector has taken major attempts to bring all feasible areas under fish culture. With an investment of Rs. 94.72 crore under different schemes so far, a total water area of 1135.60 Ha, covering 11,356 beneficiaries, has been achieved since the inception of the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission (MSAM). The State will develop another 868.0 Ha.
of water area within the current year. In order to strengthen animal health care, Government is committed to create and upgrade 11 (eleven) more new dispensaries during the current year. To enhance bio security measures, 2(two) demonstration farms will be set up at Khliehtyrshi, West Jaintia Hills district and Upper Shillong in East Khasi Hills district.
The introduction of the .National Livestock Mission from this year will be a major thrust area. In addition, a special scheme for import of quality germplasm through the M.O.U signed between the State Government and the Government of Alberta, Canada is expected to stabilise our meat production.
The Slaughter house at Mawiong near Shillong is expected to be commissioned before the end of the current year. The Government is committed to further accelerate the process for the economic and social development of rural areas in the State by leveraging upon the centrally sponsored schemes, apart from making adequate provisions under the State sector schemes.
The Flagship Programmes under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes will continue. The “State Rural Infrastructure Development Initiative (SRIDI)” was launched by the State Government in 2013-14 with an attempt to satisfy small scale local felt needs which can lead to significant impacts in improving the quality of life in the village. With the objective to provide quality and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in the remote areas, Government has identified 20 (twenty) educationally backward Blocks for setting up of residential schools with infrastructure and facilities comparable to the national standard.
Good roads are a key ingredient for the all round development of the State. During the year 2013-14, 46 Km of new road have been constructed, 320 Km of Kutcha road have been blacktopped and 1393 RM of RCC bridges have been constructed. The total road length of the State has registered an increase to 9594 Km as on 01-04-2014 with a corresponding increase in the road density to 42.77 Kms/l00 Sq.Km.
The implementation of schemes under the new initiative of the State Government for upgradation of State Highways (SHs), Major District Roads (MDRs) and Urban Roads is making good progress.
Government is committed to provide adequate safe drinking water & sanitation facilities to all the inhabitants of the State. During 2013-14, 511 Slipped Back Habitations, 38 Quality Affected Habitations, 586 Schools & 446 Anganwadi centres were provided with adequate and safe drinking water supply.
Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) has been given extra impetus by the Government of India and the programme has been renamed as Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).
The programme has now also been extended to APL families in ST dominated areas, landless 1abourers and woman headed households apart from BPL families.
Tourism will be given a special thrust to generate employment and revenue for the state. Developing an eco-system to promote Meghalaya as top tourist destination is on the anvil.
With the rapid increase of unemployment problems, there is a need to develop entrepreneurship and small scale industries to generate employment and improve the economic conditions of the rural people. Business and entrepreneurship incubation centres for youth and women will be established across the state to generate entrepreneurship and employment. Special preferential purchase policy for startup enterprises will be implemented to support local entrepreneurs.
Forests play a very important role in the maintenance of environmental stability in our fragile hilly state.
They are also a source of sustenance and livelihood for the majority of the rural residents of the State.
The State Bio-Diversity Board has been constituted and 85 (eighty five) Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been formed till date for the purpose of preserving and conserving the rich biodiversity existing in the State.
11(eleven) eco-friendly crematoriums have been constructed in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region to reduce consumption of firewood and pollution.
A Micro Plant Propagation Centre-cum-laboratory at Upper Shillong and a Herbal Garden in the compounds of Raj Bhavan have been established.
Government will continue to lay emphasis on the development of information technology in the State to enhance employability of the youth of the State and for wealth generation for the citizens of the State.
During 2013-14, four enabling programmes under the National e-Governance Plan which include the State Data Centre, State Wide Area Network, Common Service Centres and the State Service Delivery Gateway have been implemented in the State.
Under the scheme ‘Digital Learning Aid for Students,the state government has sanctioned 25,000 tablets with contents for class XI and XII students beside 219 meritorious students of class X & class XII who were given laptops during 2013-14.
Other important schemes slated for implementation during the current year includes the 2nd phase extension of Software Technology Parks of India, at Lumjingshai and the e-District project and the Cloud Enablement of the State Data Centre project.
Health and Family Welfare continues to play an important role in our pursuit of ensuring a brighter and healthier future for the people of the State.
The setting up of a Medical College on PPP mode at the site of the Reid Provincial Chest Hospital, Shillong and the Government Medical College at Tura will be vigorously pursued in the interest of the people of the State in general and aspiring students in particular . In order to provide proper guidance to aspiring youths of the State in the pursuit of their career, an amount of Rs 500 lakhs has been earmarked for the Chief Minister’s Career Guidance and Counseling Scheme.
Under the Chief Minister’s Youth Development Schemes (CMYDS), an amount of Rs. 650 lakhs has been sanctioned to the Deputy Commissioners and Resident Commissioner, New Delhi for promotion and implementation of youth related activities and innovative programmes.
Under the Chief Minister’s Youth for Green Campaign, an amount of Rs. 200 Lakhs has been placed the disposal of all the Deputy Commissioners for implementation of the scheme.
The New Shillong Township is being developed and adequate attention is being given to develop necessary core infrastructure in the Township to facilitate orderly expansion of the capital city. The green city concept under the mission green will be given a special thrust for Shillong and district head quarters.
Under the Flagship Programme of JNNURM, 240 more buses have been sanctioned to augment the state public transport system.
The power scenario in the State has been engaging the attention of the Government. The present unrestricted power demand in the State is of the order of 628 Mega Watts and the existing power availability from the State’s own generation and Central Sector Share of Power is 524 MW only.
To tide over this prevailing power crisis, the State is compelled to purchase power for meeting the load demand.
However, with the on-going initiatives and an increase in the central power allocation, it is expected that by the end of the 12th Plan Period (2012-17), the power availability will increase by 534 MW.
The development of a coal based Thermal Power Project in the State is very essential to tide over the power deficit and to achieve the much needed ideal thermal-hydro mix.The State Government has signed MOUs with NEEPCO and other partners for development of Coal based Thermal Power Plants in Garo Hills.
The Government is in the process of implementing the Public Transport System for Rural Connectivity which will be managed and supervised by the Deputy Commissioners in the districts.
The construction of Dudhnoi-Mendipathar Railway line has been completed and a trial run was conducted during March, 2014. The line is expected to be made operational soon. This is an important milestone in the history of the State and is expected to provide a new and cheaper alternative mode of transport to the people of Garo Hills. The acquisition of land for construction of the Tetelia-Byrnihat line is currently underway.
The State Government has been actively engaged in dealing with the fallout of the ban on rat hole coal mining in the State and coal transportation thereof by the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal. The livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people directly or indirectly involved in coal mining activities have been affected. Our indigenous tribal land owners of the State have been carrying on coal mining activities as per the customary rights and practices of our tribal people. As such, when the State Government of Meghalaya was created the then State Government has requested the Central Government that the customary rights and practices followed for coal mining in the State thus far should not be disturbed. The Government of India has been responsive to the request of the State Government and indicated that they would not like to take any step to disturb the rights of the indigenous people of Meghalaya in respect of customary rights and practices for coal mining but are regulated by State to meet the environmental and safety requirements. And in order to meet these requirements of various statutory laws and appropriately regulate the coal mining activities, State Government after exhaustive engagement with the stakeholders have framed measures to facilitate systematic and scientific utilization of mineral resources and notified the Meghalaya Mines and Mineral Policy, 2012. However, in the implementation of aforesaid Policy, certain provision of the Central Laws such as Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957, the Coal Mines (Nationalization) 1973 etc., have come on the way. In view of these, the State Government have taken up this issue in order to protect the interest of our indigenous people with the then Hon’ble Prime Minister in May, 2014 and again with the present Hon’ble Prime Minister in July, 2014 for invoking paragraph 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution so that application of the above Central Laws relating to mining may be rescinded through Presidential Notification. This will empower the State Legislature to legislate appropriate laws in order to regulate mining in the State while Central Laws relating to environment, forests, child labour, mine safety, etc shall continue to apply. We firmly believe that this is the only way to restore the customary rights and practices of our indigenous tribes in relation to coal mining which have been taken away by the above Central Laws particularly the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973.
Necessary measures to comply with the directives of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal have been taken by the State Government so as to enable lifting of the ban on both transportation of the coal extracted and mining rights of coal in the State can be achieved. As per the directive of the National Green Tribunal the transportation of coal already extracted and assessed by the committee would be allowed soon as per the guidelines framed by the National Green Tribunal Committee. Further, as per the subsequent Order of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, the State Government has submitted the Mining Plan, Health Plan etc. to the relevant Ministry, Govt. of India. This is expected to give interim relief to all the mine owners and those associated with coal mining activities. However, it is reiterated that in order to restore the rights of our people over their coal mines as per the customary rights and to enable to get clearances in respect of various statutory laws for coal mining, invoking of para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to exempt the application of relevant Central Laws by rescinding through Presidential Notification need to be aggressively followed up with Government of India. I urge upon all concerned citizens and leaders of various political parties to make a concerted effort to prevail upon the Government of India on this issue. The State Government of Meghalaya also will take on board other State Governments of North East in taking up this issue concertedly with Government of India, so that the provision of paragraph 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution be upheld in letter and spirit for which the provision in the Constitution have been incorporated in the first instance. We reassure the people that all necessary measures will be taken to protect the interest of our indigenous people and create a right format to enable our people realize the benefit out of our natural resources while taking stringent measures to protect and preserve the environment.
As we strive together to achieve sustained peace for the progress and prosperity of our state and leave behind a secured future for our next generation, i call upon all the misguided youth who are waging war against the nation and our own people to realize the futility of violence and take advantage of Government’s offer to come overground and avail the rehabilitation package which includes counseling, handholding and sustainable livelihood. I also urge all responsible citizens, leaders, civil society activists, religious activist to join me in reaching out to our misguided youth and facilitate them joining the mainstream.
As I conclude, I call upon the people of the State to join hands in our continuing endeavour to maintain peace and harmony and to forge ahead on the path of growth and development.
I also urge upon the parents and guardians to devote quality time to counsel and guide their children and wards and inculcate in them high moral, ethical and social values to enable them to grow as worthy citizens of our society.
May the blessings of the Almighty be upon us all and may He lead us on the right path so that we are able to envision a vibrant, prosperous and peaceful Meghalaya, a State once described as ‘a patch of beauty and grace’ in this North Eastern corner of our great country.(SP News)
