Shillong, Oct 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced establishment of 1,700 new Mini Anganwadi Centres across the State within next two years to cover uncovered villages.
Announcing this while attending a CM Connect programme at Thangsning under Mawkynrew block in East Khasi Hills district on Thursday, the Chief Minister said in the interim, Mini Anganwadi Centres will operate from community spaces within three months.
Besides, Rs 60 lakh has been sanctioned for repair and maintenance of 20 existing Anganwadi Centres under the state scheme, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced a series of local development initiatives, including Rs 13.35 crore sanctioned for construction of Jongksha-Thynroit bridge to improve connectivity in the region, and sanction for an Artificial Turf adjacent to the Indoor Stadium at Mawkynrew to promote youth engagement in sports.
For strengthening veterinary services in the region, he directed officials to ensure adequate manpower and medicine supply in all three dispensaries under Mawkynrew block.
As part of CM Connect, he engaged directly with residents listening to their concerns and suggestions.
The CM Connect initiative is a flagship citizen engagement platform that enables the Chief Minister to interact with people at the grassroots level, understand their challenges firsthand, and ensure that government policies and programmes align with local needs.
During the interaction, community representatives highlighted key issues and needs of the area, including the establishment of Higher Secondary Schools and a Community College, addressing challenges in implementing MNREGA, creation of more Anganwadi Centres, setting up of a Veterinary Centre, expanding the Water Supply Scheme, improving road connectivity and bridge infrastructure, developing an artificial turf ground, and strengthening the power supply system.
Earlier, the Chief Minister emphasised on the government’s initiatives to reform the state’s education sector, stating that Meghalaya spends over Rs 3,500 crore annually on education, with more than Rs 2,000 crore allocated for salaries alone.
He also highlighted that 4,500 private aided schools receive Rs 1,000 crore in grants, the highest in the North East.
“To improve efficiency and ensure equity, the government will restructure grants for Adhoc and SSA schools and also rationalize school categorization to strengthen quality education delivery,” he added.
“Many schools in rural areas currently function as multi-purpose institutions – serving LP, UP, and Secondary levels. Our focus is to streamline and strengthen such institutions to ensure access to quality education at every level,” he said.
On Early Childhood Development (ECD), the Chief Minister informed that the Government’s ECD Mission provides a holistic, life-cycle approach from early years to adolescence, covering health, nutrition, and learning needs.
He also took the opportunity to urge construction workers to register for labour cards to avail welfare benefits under the Labour Cess Fund.
Farmers raised concerns about the need for seeds and farm equipment, to which the Chief Minister announced that the scope of the CM FARM+ and CM SEEDS schemes will be expanded, and additional funds will be provided to support diverse farming activities.
Thanking the residents for their participation, the Chief Minister said, “Your valuable inputs and cooperation enable us to serve you better. Together, we will build stronger communities and ensure that every household benefits from our development efforts.”
