State’s minimum wage Rs 525 second highest after Karnataka
Shillong, Feb 23: Around 3.66 lakh jobs were generated between 2019 and 2025 in Meghalaya, according to an estimate done as per Reserve Bank of India methodology.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed this in his reply on the debate to the Governor’s Address in the Assembly on Monday.
Agriculture accounted for 1.90 lakh jobs, with floriculture (789), mushroom cultivation (4,078), fruit development (12,714), organic farming (47,927) and Lakadong mission (15,333) contributing to the sectoral total, as per the KLEMS-based estimate.
“Every district has benefitted,” Sangma said, noting organic farming employment in West Garo Hills (5,279), Ri-Bhoi (4,301) and East Khasi Hills (4,728). Hotels added 12,683 jobs, transport 9,835 and manufacturing and recycling 24,926.
Sangma said state schemes supported about 10,000 people under YES Meghalaya, 11,050 under Aqua Mission, 1.7 lakh under CM-CARE and 9,000 under PRIME, touching “close to 8 lakh” beneficiaries overall.
“It is difficult to satisfy everybody but we are trying,” he said.
On wages, he said Meghalaya’s minimum wage of Rs 525 is the country’s second highest after Karnataka’s Rs 581 and the highest in the northeast.
“This reflects the intention of the government… to support in the most possible way the poorest of the poor,” he said.
Further, Sangma said Meghalaya is now the country’s second-fastest growing economy with a 9.66% real GSDP growth rate, behind Tamil Nadu’s 11.91%.
“This is a matter of deep satisfaction… the efforts made in last eight years have led to this growth,” Sangma said, adding the state maintained an average of 10% for three years.
The government is targeting Rs 85,000 crore GSDP, or about a $10 billion economy.
He acknowledged per-capita GSDP has been low, with Meghalaya rising from 28th in 2019 to 26th now, citing high population growth of 0.95%.
“Per capita GDP growth for Meghalaya we are ranked number five in the country between 2019-2025,” he said. “On average are we better off than what we were in 2018? Yes.”
Sangma highlighted firsts secured under his government—a state anthem and state symbols after 50 years, revival of legacy projects such as the Croborough hotel, and a new Assembly building.
“These impactful changes have taken place,” he said, linking growth to employment gains measured under the RBI labour-energy-services framework.
On local contractors, he noted large tenders follow central guidelines but minor works are targeted to small operators.
Spending under that head rose from Rs 454 crore in 2019 to Rs 1,286 crore now.
“A three-time jump… to ensure small-time contractors are able to take care of their livelihood,” he said, pledging continued support.
He linked the push to entrepreneurship and employment drives such as PRIME and CM-Elevate, stressing growth must “make life of citizens better.”
Meanwhile, the chief minister also announced the government will build houses for families too poor to buy land, saying the plan reflects its intent to ensure “the poorest of the poor are not left behind.”
The announcement comes as large projects reshape Shillong. “It is important for us to think about lots of poor families who have no houses,” Sangma said.
