Shillong: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday commended the Meghalaya government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, for its “model” approach to development and full utilisation of its ₹5,400 crore SASCI allocation.
“While some states are unable to fully utilise their shares, Meghalaya has effectively used its entire allocation to build capital assets. I will put on record my appreciation,” Sitharaman said during her visit to Shillong.
She praised the state for key milestones such as the construction of 540 km of roads and a five-fold increase in optical fibre coverage since 2014. The state also showed strong performance in central schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
🏗️ Major Projects Announced:
- Digital Libraries in Rural Areas:
₹162 crore to set up 750 digital libraries through the State Rural Employment Society, connecting youth to the National Digital Library. - Umiam Lake Redevelopment:
₹120.81 crore project to convert the lake into an eco-tourism hub, generating 4,000 jobs and attracting over 1.27 lakh tourists annually. - Mawkhanu Tourism Infrastructure:
₹103 crore project including a theme park, amphitheatre, and festival zones on 106 acres. - Mawkhanu Football Stadium:
₹732 crore state-of-the-art stadium with a residential football academy in partnership with NorthEast United FC. - Working Women’s Hostels:
₹132 crore for safe accommodation in Shillong, Jowai, Byrnihat, and Tura with 1,000 total beds. - CBIC Complex, New Shillong:
₹256.23 crore for administrative strengthening through a new office-cum-residential complex. - Northeast Regional IICA Campus:
₹100.95 crore to establish India’s first IICA campus outside Delhi, focusing on corporate governance and economic research.
📈 Meghalaya’s Vision 2032
CM Conrad Sangma said the government is committed to making Meghalaya one of India’s top 10 states by 2032. He shared that the state is on the verge of becoming a $6 billion economy with a growth rate of nearly 15%, well above the national average.
He credited Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) worth nearly ₹12,000 crore as vital funding sources for small states, enabling development across diverse sectors.
🌾 Agriculture & Exports
In a boost to Meghalaya’s organic farming sector, Sitharaman flagged off a consignment of premium organic pineapples to Dubai’s LULU Retail. The two-metric-tonne shipment was sourced from farmers of the Jirang Organics Farmer Producer Company under the Megha-LAMP initiative.
🏘️ Border Villages & Strategic Growth
Sitharaman announced that 92 villages along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya have been selected under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP). These villages will be designated as “first villages of India,” reflecting the Centre’s push to develop border settlements with robust infrastructure, healthcare, education, and connectivity.
“The government looks at the region as one to empower, act, strengthen and transform,” she said.