Shillong, Aug 15 (PTI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said the state’s economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it the third fastest-growing state in India over the last five years.
He also asserted that his government remained committed to financial discipline and on a war footing for the state’s overall development.
Addressing the Independence Day programme at Polo Grounds here, Sangma said the government had focused on three foundations — “protecting and preserving our land, empowering our people and upholding our culture”.
“The foundations for strong results have been laid in every sector. We have come a long way from where we stood eight years ago, and it gives me real satisfaction to see today’s Meghalaya and the road ahead of us,” he said.
Sangma, the NPP chief who became the chief minister for the first time in 2018, said the state has witnessed improvements in roads, basic infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and sports.
“Today, our economy has more than doubled since 2018, making Meghalaya the third fastest-growing state in India over the last five years,” he said, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre’s support.
On environmental conservation, he said Meghalaya has 76 per cent forest cover and highlighted the Green Meghalaya Plus programme, under which communities are being incentivised to protect natural forests.
He said more than 60,000 springs had been mapped and efforts were underway to protect them, while more than 500 large water-harvesting structures had been created.
Sangma also highlighted the state’s efforts to transition towards sustainable mining, saying scientific mining had begun and a framework was being developed to support small miners.
On agriculture, he said the government was promoting high-value crops through schemes including CM Farm Plus, the Organic Mission, Floriculture Mission and Ginger Mission.
“Through the scheme, we are providing high-value, long-gestation crops to over 25,000 farmers across all 12 districts,” he said.
The chief minister said the government has also expanded healthcare initiatives, with maternal deaths declining by 56 per cent since 2020 and infant deaths by nearly 40 per cent.
He said the Safe Motherhood Scheme helped transport more than one lakh pregnant women to healthcare facilities, including over 15,800 high-risk mothers.
On education, Sangma said Meghalaya had moved out of the lowest category in the Performance Grading Index, with its score improving from 448 to 525 in a single year.
He said the CM Skills Mission had trained more than 55,000 young people since 2022, while entrepreneurship programmes such as PRIME and CM-ELEVATE had supported thousands of beneficiaries and generated employment.
Tourism, he said, had emerged as one of Meghalaya’s strongest sources of livelihood, with annual visitors increasing from around 10 lakh in 2018 to nearly 18 lakh.
“Tourism has not just created income. It has brought dignity,” Sangma said.
He also highlighted the state’s sporting initiatives ahead of the 39th National Games, saying more than 20,000 grassroots sports projects had been completed or were under way and the STAR programme had supported over 2,400 athletes.
On the drug menace, Sangma urged young people to take up sports, music and skills, saying the strongest defence against drugs was “a full life”.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve citizen grievance redressal through CM Connect, saying more than one lakh citizens had been reached since 2024 through the helpline and other channels.
On culture, Sangma said the government would continue efforts to promote Khasi and Garo languages and pursue their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He also referred to the Meghalaya government’s agreement with Assam in March 2022 that resolved boundary differences in six of the 12 areas of dispute.
“Participation means building with people, not just for them,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sangma said the coming year would be particularly significant as Meghalaya turns 55 and hosts the 39th National Games.
“Let it be this: be optimistic, stay patient and aspire high,” he said, calling on people to become partners in the state’s development journey. PTI JOP NN
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