Shillong, July 19: Demonstrating Meghalaya’s commitment to taking governance closer to its people, the establishment of the State’s first-ever Block-Level CM Connect Centre marked a significant milestone at Sohiong, where Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya led the CM CONNECT Block Level Community Interaction Programme on 18th July 2026, combining direct public grievance redressal with over ₹140 crore multi-sector development push for the region on Saturday.
The programme brought together citizens, community institutions and government departments on a single platform, enabling residents to directly engage with the Chief Minister and senior officials while witnessing the inauguration and foundation laying of key development projects spanning tourism, roads, water supply, agriculture, irrigation and community infrastructure.
In a symbolic departure from convention, Hon’ble Chief Minister invited Shri Pyntngenlang Nongrang, retired personnel of the 1st Assam Regiment, to inaugurate the newly established CM CONNECT Centre instead of performing the ceremony himself.
Highlighting the significance of the gesture, Chief Minister reinforced the belief of the current Government that individuals who have made notable contributions to their village, the State or the nation should be recognised on such occasions; and accordingly invited Shri Pyntngenlang Nongrang to inaugurate the CM CONNECT Centre.
Immediately after the inauguration, Shri Sangma personally registered the first grievance at the new CM CONNECT Centre, underscoring the Government’s commitment to making grievance redressal more accessible, responsive and citizen centric.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Block Integrated Development Complex (BIDC), the Block Resource Centre (BRC) at the Office of the Block Development Officer, Sohiong C&RD Block, besides laying the foundation stone for a futsal ground.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described CM CONNECT as one of the Government’s most challenging yet rewarding initiatives, emphasising that governance must remain centred on people and their aspirations. He said, “We must always keep our people first, governance first, and never let anything dilute our vision and our goal.”
Major development projects, as part of the programme, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects across multiple sectors, including,Tourism Infrastructure ₹83.20 crore, Development of Kynroh Viewpoint (₹12.18 crore), Sohiong Viewpoint (₹5.02 crore), Tree House and Amphitheatre at Nongkasen (₹9.39 crore), infrastructure at Lyngwa Waterfalls (₹10.06 crore), and a premium hotel with public viewing point and approach road at Lum Diengiei (₹46.55 crore).
Road Connectivity (₹20.58 crore): Construction and improvement of the Kynton Mynnar–Nongpathaw Road, including RCC bridges, and improvement of the Mawlaingut–Lawmei Road. Water and Irrigation, foundation stones laid for the Greater Sohiong Water Supply Scheme ₹34.53 crore and the Dewlieh Mawrisnai Flood Irrigation Project ₹80.02 lakh.
Community Infrastructure: Children’s and Adolescents’ Libraries and Digital Infrastructure across 13 villages under Sohiong C&RD Block (₹17.20 lakh), along with a Plastic Waste Management Unit at Marpna (₹5.43 lakh).
Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods, Collective Marketing Centres at Nongur (₹10 lakh) and Jamynthlen (₹15 lakh), besides an Agricab by Mawthwan IVCS to strengthen rural agricultural value chains.
Citizens Raise Local Issues; Government Announces Immediate Interventions .The CM CONNECT public interaction enabled residents to directly raise issues relating to drinking water, agriculture, education, disaster relief, sports infrastructure, employment and livelihoods before the Chief Minister and senior government officials. Among the key interventions announced were:
Water Security: The Greater Sohiong Water Supply Scheme will address recurring seasonal water shortages in the region. Soil Conservation: Residents affected by farmland erosion were encouraged to submit requests through the newly inaugurated CM CONNECT Centre for site-specific soil conservation measures.
CM Solar Mission, Pending applications from Sohiong have been prioritised under the upcoming sanction phase following improvements in implementation protocols.
Disaster Relief, The Government reiterated its policy of ensuring relief assistance for crop and property under State Disaster Response Fund (FUND) and distribution of CGI sheets to families affected by natural disasters to provide emergency shelter.
Agricultural Infrastructure: Two cold storage facilities worth ₹56 lakh are under construction at Lawmei, while Krang village will be mapped for future decentralised solar-powered cold storage hubs.
Sports Infrastructure: The proposal for an AstroTurf stadium at Nongur, has been finalised and forwarded for consideration. Youth Skilling: Under the CM Skills Mission, more than 334 youths from Sohiong have already received training in food processing, masonry and carpentry, with the Chief Minister encouraging local youth to leverage the State’s expanding skill development programmes.
Addressing concerns over education infrastructure, Shri Sangma acknowledged the existing challenges while highlighting the progress achieved under Mission Education, under which six new school buildings have already been completed in Sohiong through the first three phases.
He informed that Phase IV has completed the tendering process and implementation will commence shortly. He further stated that proposals for upgrading schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) framework continue to be pursued for future approval, including expansion to higher secondary level, filling of teacher vacancies and establishment of smart classrooms based on local requirements.
Shri Synsharkupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, Hon’ble MLA of Sohiong Constituency thanked the Government for sanctioning numerous developmental projects across the constituency, including major investments in water supply and road infrastructure. He described the upcoming Western Bypass as a transformative project for Sohiong and expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister for his continued support towards the constituency’s development.
Welcoming the gathering, Shri Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, described the programme as a milestone that combined the Government’s flagship CM CONNECT initiative with a comprehensive package of multi-sector developmental projects for Sohiong.
The programme also celebrated women’s empowerment and community-led rural development by showcasing inspiring success stories of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS). During the event, the Hon’ble Chief Minister felicitated the best-performing Village Organisations (VOs), Village Employment Councils (VECs), IVCSs and Producer Groups (PGs) for their outstanding contributions to grassroots development.
To further strengthen these community institutions, the Chief Minister distributed financial mobilisation cheques amounting to over ₹23 lakh for SHGs, ₹20 lakh for Village Organisations (VOs), and sanctioned over ₹4.13 crore for Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), reaffirming the Government’s continued investment in women-led entrepreneurship and community-driven development.
