Shillong, March 29: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr. Conrad K Sangma, on Saturday addressed a gathering commemorating eight years of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government, reflecting on the state’s transformative journey marked by resilience, stability and inclusive growth at a program held at SRGT Football Ground, Shillong.
Also present were Minister, Tourism, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, T D Shira and MLA, Umsning and Government Chief Whip, Dr C Lyngdoh besides government officials and beneficiaries from the Khasi and Jaintia districts.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that the government’s vision has always been to transform the state and make a meaningful difference in the lives of its citizens and added that over the past eight years, Meghalaya has navigated numerous challenges while also leveraging significant opportunities to move forward with purpose and determination.
“Today, as we look back, we acknowledge both the challenges we faced and the opportunities we embraced. With the support of like-minded leaders and the people of the state, we have been able to create the momentum necessary to take Meghalaya forward,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized that while the government does not claim to have achieved everything, it has laid a clear direction for the future. He underscored that this progress is not the result of any one individual but a collective effort driven by the trust and belief of the citizens in the leadership.
A key pillar of this progress, he noted, has been political stability, which has enabled consistent governance and long-term planning. “Without stability, development is not possible. Over the last eight years, we have ensured a stable political environment that allowed us to pursue our vision and take decisions in the best interest of the state,” he added.
Highlighting the government’s development model, the Chief Minister stated that infrastructure-led growth has been central to Meghalaya’s progress. “Significant investments have been made across sectors, with 1,576 projects initiated in the Khasi region and approximately ₹21,000 crore worth of projects in the Jaintia Hills region. Major initiatives include large-scale road development, tourism infrastructure, and the development of the New Shillong area,” he informed.
The Chief Minister also maintained the government has ensured that economic growth remains inclusive and people-centric together with economic growth and development stating that several welfare schemes have been implemented to directly benefit citizens across sectors.
“Under the PRIME programme, approximately ₹32.7 crore has been disbursed over the last five years. The homestay sector has received ₹136 crore to boost tourism and local livelihoods, while ₹40 crore has been invested in promoting grassroots music,” he said.
Stating that forests and environment has been a crucial sector for the government, the Chief Minister said,”Environmental conservation has also been a priority, with ₹120 crore allocated under the Green Meghalaya initiatives to support communities in preserving forests.”
Talking about initiatives and reforms in the education sector he said that nearly one lakh students have benefited from Chief Minister’s Scholarships, receiving ₹6,000 each, amounting to ₹60 crore with the CM Elevate programme that has supported beneficiaries amounting to ₹146 crore, alongside ₹56 crore under LIFCOM providing working capital to small farmers and organisations and ₹50 crore in floriculture development totalling nearly ₹500 crore investment in welfare schemes targeting farmers, youth, and various community groups.”Only when we are able to carry everybody along we will see complete development,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s balanced approach, the Chief Minister addressed concerns regarding expenditure on festivals and events. He clarified that such initiatives are essential for branding Meghalaya and Shillong on the global stage, thereby boosting tourism and economic activity. “These efforts are not undertaken at the cost of farmers, students, or the health sector. Our approach ensures balanced and inclusive growth,” he said.
The Chief Minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to continue working with determination, guided by a clear vision and the collective aspirations of the people of Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister and the dignitaries also distributed cheques of Rs 6.04 Crs under FOCUS+ ( disbursed to 1.05 lakh old and new beneficiaries), Green Meghalaya+ Rs 24.54 Crs ( disbursed to 5994 old and new beneficiaries), cheques and work orders under CM Elevate of Rs 76 lakhs for entrepreneurs with Rs 18.47 Crs expenditure for 55 warehouses and 4 CFCs, LIFCOM Rs 27 Crs to 627 cooperatives, MegLife Rs 30 Crs for 128 Community Halls and under Floriculture Rs 22 Crs to 320 new beneficiaries with a total of 789 beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also felicitated 37 village heads recognising their leadership roles under the Green Meghalaya program. 128 Community Halls under MegLife supported by JICA and 34 Warehouse & Common Facility Centres under CM Elevate were also virtually inaugurated by the Chief Minister during the occasion.
