Tura, March 6: The “Our Magnificent Meghalaya Vision 2032” programme commemorating eight years of the MDA Government was held today at the P. A. Sangma Sports Complex in Tura.
The programme was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma; Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar; Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Thomas A. Sangma; Minister for Tourism and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Timothy D. Shira; and Marcuise N. Marak, Minister for Public Health Engineering, Soil & Water Conservation and Housing, along with Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma reflected on the Government’s eight-year journey, acknowledging the challenges faced while expressing gratitude for the support of the people.
“Over the last eight years, our journey has been filled with challenges and difficulties. At times it has been painful and it has certainly not been easy. But through the blessings from above, the love of the people and the support of our citizens, we have been able to overcome most of these challenges,” he said.
The Chief Minister shared that on the occasion of Meghalaya Day this year he received a letter from the Prime Minister of India congratulating the State on its Statehood Day and acknowledging the economic transformation taking place in Meghalaya. “If we pause and reflect on this, who would have imagined that a small state like Meghalaya would one day be competing with some of the most advanced states in the country? Yet today we stand among them in terms of economic growth,” he said.
He described this as a significant step toward the State’s long-term development vision and noted that the Prime Minister had also commended Meghalaya for maintaining fiscal discipline while pursuing economic growth.
“While economic growth is essential, it must also be sustainable and balanced, with careful management of our resources,” he added.
Reflecting on the achievements of the past eight years, the Chief Minister said that while infrastructure development was important, the true measure of progress lies in improving people’s lives.
“People often ask me what the greatest achievement of the last eight years is—whether it is the new Secretariat coming up in Shillong, the Additional Secretariat being constructed in Tura, the many roads built, or the schools constructed. While all these are important, the greatest satisfaction I get is being able to bring a smile to the face of a citizen,” he said.
He emphasised that governance must ultimately be about the difference it makes in the daily lives of people. “It is not just about buildings or infrastructure. It is about the difference we can make in a person’s life, and that is what drives this Government,” he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the shared sense of purpose among those working in Government. “Whether they are government officials, MLAs or Ministers, people are not working simply because they have to. They are working because they know their work is making a difference in someone’s life,” he said.
“What makes this Government different is the determination not to give up and the belief that every effort we make can change someone’s life somewhere in our State,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the eighth anniversary of the Government should be seen as a celebration of service to the people. While acknowledging that challenges remain, he noted that development is a continuous process and that the Government remains committed to addressing gaps in service delivery.
The Chief Minister also called for unity among communities and urged people to resolve differences through dialogue. “Hatred between tribes or communities can never be the solution. Unity has always been our strength, and we must continue to work together in a spirit of unity to take our State forward,” he said.
Before concluding, the Chief Minister spoke about what he described as three forms of development. “The first is development that you can hear—when announcements are made about policies or projects. The second is development that you can see—when roads, schools, hospitals and buildings are constructed,” he said.
“But the most important is development that you can feel—when a life is saved in a hospital, when a child receives education in a school, or when a farmer’s livelihood improves because of government support. That is the development we must strive for—development that people can truly feel in their lives. When that happens, the smile on a person’s face becomes the greatest achievement,” the Chief Minister concluded.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong described the occasion as an important milestone for the State, noting that the MDA Government began its journey on March 6, 2018 under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
“When we formed the government, the journey ahead was not easy. There were many challenges and ups and downs. But with the blessings and guidance of Almighty God, we have now reached eight years of this journey,” he said.
He expressed gratitude for the continued support of the people and highlighted that the programme witnessed the distribution of substantial financial assistance to beneficiaries.
“The total distribution of cheques for today alone amounts to around ₹220 crore. This money goes directly to the beneficiaries,” he said.
“I believe this is no small matter. In a single day, the Government is distributing around ₹220 crore for the welfare of the people,” he added.
He also called upon citizens and civil society organisations to support the Government’s development initiatives. “The door is always open. We are always ready to discuss any issues or concerns. At the same time, we must recognise and support programmes that are meant for the welfare of our people, especially the poor in both rural and urban areas,” he said.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma lauded the achievements of the MDA Government and congratulated the Chief Minister on becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister in the history of the State. He expressed gratitude to the people for their trust in the Government and for working in collaboration with it.
He also expressed hope that both the Government and the Opposition would continue to work together to ensure that the promise of Vision 2032 becomes a reality in every corner of Meghalaya.
Minister for Tourism and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Timothy D. Shira said he was encouraged by the transformative changes taking place in the State over the past eight years. He spoke about the Government’s flagship programmes and how they are positively impacting the lives of citizens, and called upon the people to extend their cooperation in building a developed and prosperous Meghalaya.
Earlier, Marcuise N. Marak delivered the welcome address. He said that the completion of eight years of the MDA Government was made possible because of the support and trust of the people.
He noted that Meghalaya is witnessing steady development and progress under the leadership of the Chief Minister. He also attributed the State’s progress to the dedication and hard work of officers and government employees across departments, referring to them collectively as “Team Meghalaya.”
The event began with the State Anthem.On the occasion, the Chief Minister released the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for the academic year 2025–26, amounting to over ₹5 crore and benefiting 98,751 students across the State. He also launched the Uniform Grant through Direct Benefit Transfer, amounting to over ₹3 crore for 50,000 students.
Beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme and the CM Farm+ initiative shared their experiences, highlighting the positive impact of these programmes on their lives. A video presentation showcasing the achievements of the State Government over the past eight years was also screened for the gathering.
Another presentation highlighted the impact of the CM Farm+ initiative, particularly its role in supporting farmers and boosting black pepper production in the State. Beneficiaries of the CM Elevate scheme and the CM Homestay Mission also shared their experiences.
Financial assistance was distributed to beneficiaries under CM Farm+, the CM Elevate SEED Scheme and the CM Homestay Mission. Support was also extended to beneficiaries under the Green Meghalaya+ initiative and VDVK food cart programme.
During the event, the Chief Minister also remotely inaugurated 101 community halls constructed across the State under the Project for Community-Based Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in Meghalaya, jointly supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.
He also inaugurated eight warehouses and Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in the Garo Hills region developed under the CM Elevate initiative to strengthen local value chains and support community-based enterprises.
The programme was organised under the theme “Our Magnificent Meghalaya | Vision 2032,” commemorating eight years of the MDA Government and highlighting the State’s development journey with a focus on improved service delivery, sustainable infrastructure and expanding opportunities for the people of Meghalaya.
