Shillong, April 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr.Conrad K Sangma, today, virtually inaugurated the two-days’ Workshop on Emerging Technologies at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.
The workshop, organized by the Department of Information Technology and Communications (IT&C), Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), witnessed participation from key dignitaries and stakeholders from across the state and the country.
Mr. D.P. Wahlang, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya; Pravin Bakshi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary; Idashisha Nongrang, IPS, Director General of Police; R.S. Gill, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force; K.L. Nongbri, Joint Secretary, IT&C Department; Nand Kumaram.
President and CEO of NeGD (joining virtually); and Dinesh Didel, Director – Technology Management, NeGD. Senior officials from various departments, NIC, DoT, academic institutions like IIM Shillong, NIT Meghalaya, NEHU, and representatives from startups and civil society organizations also took part in the inaugural session.
In his keynote address as Chief Guest, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, stressed on the transformative power of technology in governance, citing it as a tool to solve real-world problems and improve existing public systems.
He highlighted the success of Meghalaya’s e-Proposal and digital file movement systems under the Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture framework. The Chief Minister pointed out that even while away from Shillong, he was able to seamlessly clear government files on his mobile device, demonstrating the efficacy of real-time digital governance.
He shared the remarkable progress the state has made in reducing maternal mortality by nearly 50% through the use of technology in tracking and supporting high-risk pregnancies.
He also spoke about a pioneering initiative to install IoT sensors across the state’s 70,000 water springs to gather real-time data for improved water resource management, adding that the project aims to support better planning and conservation efforts.
Highlighting the state’s push for blockchain integration, the Chief Minister announced that Meghalaya will soon implement a blockchain-based employee data and promotion tracking system beginning with the police department. This, he said, would reduce delays and enhance transparency in recruitment and career progression across government departments.
Drawing from a recent study visit to Japan, the Chief Minister also discussed cutting-edge farming models utilizing robotics and AI in greenhouse farming. He expressed the state’s intent to replicate such technologies in Meghalaya, especially in crops like strawberries and lettuce, to enhance agricultural productivity.
He further added that emerging technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality will be explored in Meghalaya’s tourism sector to create immersive digital experiences and global visibility for the state’s cultural and natural heritage.
The Chief Minister concluded by reaffirming Meghalaya’s commitment to becoming the IT and digital services hub of the Northeast. He spoke about infrastructure developments such as the expansion of Shillong Tech Parks, upcoming five-star hotels, improved airport connectivity with larger flights expected to land by early 2026, and enhanced fiber-optic and Infrastructure to support the digital ecosystem.
He called for deeper collaboration with NeGD, IndiaAI, and other partners to ensure inclusive technological progress across the state, from urban centres to remote villages.
Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang applauded the strides made by the state in digital governance, highlighting the successful implementation of e-file systems that have significantly increased administrative efficiency.
He recounted a personal anecdote about how file processing has moved from dusty stacks to digital dashboards, enabling decision-making from any location—even from a mobile phone.
He also touched upon the establishment of the State Government’s Drone Technology Lab, which is now being used for high-resolution mapping in sectors such as mining, forestry, and tourism. He commended the use of VR in legal education, citing its integration at the National Law University in Shillong.
The Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of building the digital ecosystem, not just in infrastructure but in local language accessibility, such as the upcoming integration of Khasi and Garo languages into the AI-powered Bhashini app.
Joining virtually, Shri Nand Kumaram, President and CEO of NeGD, emphasized the need for a shift from pilot projects to scalable, product-oriented technology solutions. He encouraged departments to adopt a product mindset, focus on procurement reforms, build capacity across teams, and incentivize learning in government organizations.
Mr. Kumaram underscored the importance of collaboration with startups and educational institutions, citing Rajasthan’s IT Cadre model and national initiatives like the Bhashini platform and AI Mission as successful case studies.
The two-day workshop will include technical sessions focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, UX in Governance and Public Digital Infrastructure. It aims to deepen the understanding of technology’s role in shaping future-ready governance, aligned with the State Government’s Digital Meghalaya vision and national missions such as Digital India and IndiaAI.
