Shillong, August 15: Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy and deserves a special focus. Meghalaya received the “Krishi Karman Award” from the Government of India as the Best Performing State among category III States in overall food production for three consecutive years of 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15. The foremost priority of the Government remains increasing food grains production. Accordingly, area expansion under rice production by promoting winter cultivation through assured irrigation, proper land use and mechanization is being taken up. Steps are also being taken to promote organic cultivation through the use of organic bio fertilizers and bio pesticides. The Department is also promoting the cultivation of ‘Ramie’ a semi perennial crop grown in a fairly wide range of agro ecological conditions for its fibre and green feed for livestock.
A new central scheme, namely, the National Mission on Soil Health Management, which aims at promoting location-specific and crop-specific sustainable soil health management, including residue management, organic farming practices, appropriate land use and judicious application of fertilizers, is being implemented now. As part of the Government initiative to promote green economy in the State, a scheme on ‘bamboo organic plantation’ and agar cultivation was launched in May, 2015. With a view to making the State “a gene bank of agar”, agar plantation will be encouraged in the private and community lands on cluster basis at suitable locations covering all the Districts.
The Government under the Community & Rural Development Department continues to implement various poverty alleviation programmes in rural areas. During 2015 -16 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), wage employment of 199.10 lakh person days through execution of infrastructure works for an amount of Rs.278.31 crore was generated. The budget provision for the year 2016-17 is Rs.552 crore. Under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Rs.31.67 crore was utilized and 3,016 houses were constructed during 2015-16. From 2016-17, the scheme has been restructured and the new rural housing scheme named Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) has been formulated. The budget provision under PMAY –(G) for the year 2016-17 is Rs.66 crore. The implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has been expanded to 8 (eight) blocks viz Umsning, Mawkynrew, Resubelpara, Laskein, Dalu, Mairang, Mawkyrwat and Rongram in 2015-16 and an amount of Rs.1.82 crore was spent and 447 SHGs have been formed. The budget provision for the year 2016-17 is Rs.21 crore.
The Government is making efforts to promote inclusive growth by enabling access to finance by the poor and vulnerable groups. As part of the financial inclusion drive, the scheme “Women Economic empowerment through Financial Inclusion” was launched in 2010-11. Under the scheme, seed money contribution of Rs. 5,000/- is transferred to the beneficiaries bank account directly, which serves as margin money for availing financial assistance from the banks in order to take up economic activities for achieving sustainable livelihood. The scheme has been functioning effectively and till date out of an amount of Rs. 75.50 crore, Rs.42.20 crore has been disbursed to Deputy Commissioners for implementation. This scheme will now be driven more effectively to promote financial literacy and entrepreneurship by leveraging upon number of livelihood scheme.
The State is availing funds from various sources to achieve better road connectivity which will boost the economy. “Garobadha to Dalu (NH-51) Road” of 93.40 KM length has been taken up as an Externally Aided Project under the North Eastern State Roads Investment programme (NESRIP) and is progressing well and about 30% of the works is completed. The Special Plan Assistance has been utilised to sanction 208 projects for construction of new roads as well as for improvement of existing ones in the State at a cost of Rs.601 crore. Under the State Plan funds, 60 Kms of new roads have been constructed, 253 Km of kutcha road have been blacktopped and 507 Rm of RCC bridges have been constructed. Further, under the various phases of PMGSY, 220 habitations have been connected by a road length of 847 Kms involving 225 road works. The programme for improvement of State Highways and Major District Roads in the State is being under taken through the Central Road Fund Scheme. The State Government has been able to involve Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to invest for upgradation of NH 62, NH 51 and NH 44 E. The land acquisition process for the same are already in an advanced stage.
In order to achieve 100% village and rural household electrification in the entire State, the scheme “Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY)”, has been implemented in all the Districts of Meghalaya at a total sanctioned cost of Rs.395.117 crores. The existing programme of RGGVY has been subsumed as a separate rural electrification component under the Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUJGY) since December, 2014. Under this scheme, electrification of 894 unelectrified villages will be taken up at an approved cost of Rs.282crore.
The Government has formulated and implemented various schemes and programmes for the development of urban centres of the State. The Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase-III, which was sanctioned under JNNURM, is now expected to be completed by March 2017 as the final instalment amounting Rs.43.53 crore is being released by Govt. of India under AMRUT. Purchase of another 240 buses for Greater Shillong Planning Area was sanctioned under JNNURM against which 136 nos. of buses have been delivered and supply of the remaining 104 buses is in process. Under AMRUT, the newly launched programme of the Government of India, the State Annual Action Plans amounting to Rs.22.81 crore and Rs.26.67crore have been approved for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 by the Ministry of Urban Development. Under this programme, major works to be initiated will be implementation of a Septage & Sewerage Management Plant for two subzones in Shillong.
One of the major initiatives of the Govt. of Meghalaya is to provide quality educational facilities for all round development of human resources in the State. Alongwith the implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), the upgradation of 117 Government Aided Secondary/Higher Secondary schools through renovation of existing school buildings, construction of new classrooms, toilets, computer lab, library and smart class rooms is being undertaken. Under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) the State has got the approval for setting up an Engineering College in Shillong and a College of Architecture and Urban Planning in the Garo Hills. Support for infrastructural developments in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accredited colleges has also been approved. The land for Captain Williamson Technical University at Tura, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tura and Engineering Colleges at Shillong and Jowai are now finalized.
The Government is implementing a Skill Development Programme for skilling 60,000 youths over a period of three years under the Asian Development Bank funded programme. In addition to the Model Career Centre in Shillong, the Government has received approval for setting up a Model Career Centre at Tura and a new ITI at Mawkyrwat.
Meghalaya has come a long way in improving the health facilities and health status of the people. Recently some newly constructed PHCc/SCs inMawkynrew, Mawroh and Umrynjah in East Khasi Hills District and Thadrang Sub-Centre in Ri-Bhoi District were inaugurated, thereby, bringing health care services closer to the people. The State Government is implementing MHIS II (Megha Health Insurance Scheme) to cater to the medical needs of all citizens of the State (excluding Central & State Government employee) during sickness with valid MGNREGS, BPL enrollment or Voter ID proof. MHIS III is set to commence from 1st November, 2016 and will additionally cover the senior citizens from RSBY category families for Rs. 30,000/- per senior citizen. As Meghalaya is facing shortage of doctors the State Government has decided to setup two medical colleges in the State.
Meghalaya being a matrilineal society, the welfare of women has been on the fore-front. The State Commission for Women and the State Resource Centre for Women has been set up. A One Stop Crisis Centre for Women at Ganesh Das Hospital, Shillong catering to medical care, counselling, and legal assistance for women victims of domestic violence and sexual assault has been set up. Working women hostels in Shillong and Tura have been set up. The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has been set up to regulate and enforce the provisions and rules of relevant laws for safe guarding children. The welfare institutions through Integrated Child Protection Schemes have been set up for care, support and protection of children and the Observation Home for boys and girls at Mawdiang-diang has been inaugurated. To combat mal-nutrition of children, a supplementary nutrition programme under the mission mode of revised ICDS has been implemented in 5,896 Aganwadi centres in the State. This year a programme of Early Childhood Care & Education with formal syllabus is also under implementation.
Under Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme, 33,614 infirm, 21,095 single mothers and 8,477 disabled persons were covered in 2015-16. 249 orphaned girls are also covered under the scheme of wedding assistance. Four Early Diagnostic & Intervention Centres (EDIC) at Shillong, Jowai, Nongstoin and Tura for preparing the hearing impaired infants and young children to acquire necessary skills for regular schooling are being established.
With an aim to upscale the capabilities of sportspersons, creation of additional infrastructure and empowerment of youth, various programmes were taken up by the Government. An International Standard Football Stadium funded by the Ministry of DONER at a total cost of Rs.44.00 crores will be constructed at Ampati. The foundation stone for this was laid by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, ShriNarendraModi on 27.05.2016 at Shillong. The State Government along with the State Olympic Association has initiated the process of hosting the mega sports event, the National Games in the year 2022, meant to coincide with the Golden jubilee of the State. Rs.5.00 crore has already been earmarked for the purpose.
The industries sector is one of the major contributors for economic upliftment of the State. Its capacity in employment generation cannot be overlooked and the Government has been promoting the development of industry and industrial activities in the State. In the commerce sector, the State Government has focussed on development of infrastructure for export. With the successful implementation of the Border Haat at Kalaichar, West Garo Hills District and Balat, East Khasi Hills District, the Government of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have approved setting up of the 4 (four) more New Border Haats along the Indo – Bangla International Border and sanction has been accorded for an amount of Rs.18.59 crore for construction of these Haats.
Endowed with unsurpassed natural beauty, salubrious climate and unique culture and tradition, Meghalaya has witnessed an up-trend in tourism over the last few years. Government initiatives along with increased private participation have led tourism activities in the State to witness such a trend. The Tourism Department is augmenting the tourist accommodation facilities by providing assistance for creation of home stays and resorts, building capacities and skills of the local population in hospitality trades through Food Craft Institute Tura and other private training partners like ILFS Education and B ABLE. The tourism promotional activities are being carried out through printing of publicity materials, publicity campaign in print media, participation in fairs and festivals outside the State, financial assistance to festivals depicting the rich culture and tradition of the State and production of documentary films. The Government is also encouraging adventure tourism such as Zip Lining, Trekking, Mountain Biking, Camping, Water Rafting etc.
Meghalaya has a forest cover of around 17,217 sqkms, that comprises approximately 77% of its geographical area as per 2015 estimates carried out by the Forest Survey of India. The State Government owns and directly controls 1127.23 sq. kms only while the rest is managed by the 3(three) Autonomous District Councils, communities and private entities. Despite its extensive forest cover, most of the non-Government owned forests are under stocked. Therefore, the Forest and Environment Department is undertaking extensive enrichment afforestation activities in such areas. During 2015-16, an area of 3,250 hectares was planted and 33.64 lakh number of seedlings were distributed for plantation by the public. To preserve and protect the rich bio-diversity of the State, an extensive study to characterize biodiversity as well as survey and estimation of the growing stock in some Sacred Groves has also been carried out.
The Chief Minister, recall two strong earthquake shocks experienced by Meghalaya since January, 2016. By God’s Grace no damage occurred to life and property. But it underlines the need to maintain preparedness at all times. The State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authorities are taking up various activities to build capacity to respond to such calamity and propagating measures which can be taken to increase resilience to such disasters. I call upon the Government and the people to redouble their efforts for making Meghalaya a safe and resilient society.
He, appeal to all the citizens of the State to extend their full support and cooperation to the Government in its endeavour to maintain peace and harmony in the State and in implementing the developmental policies and programmes. I am fully confident that with the cooperation of our people, the State Government will be able to successfully carry out all its programmes to serve the interests of the State and its people more effectively now and in all times to come.”
