Benefits worth Rs 220 cr distributed under various schemes
The most important development is the one people can feel — when a life is saved in a hospital, when a child receives education or when a farmer’s livelihood improves.- Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister
Tura, March 6: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who has completed eight years heading the government in two consecutive terms, has sought to prioritise improving people’s lives over infrastructure growth as key criterion for measuring ‘development’.
“The most important development is the one people can feel — when a life is saved in a hospital, when a child receives education or when a farmer’s livelihood improves,” he said underlining his government’s priority in improving people’s lives.
Development should not be judged only by visible infrastructure such as roads, schools or government buildings, he said while addressing a “Our Magnificent Meghalaya – Vision 2032” programme held at PA Sangma Sports Complex at Tura to commemorate eight years of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, Speaker Thomas A Sangma, Tourism and Agriculture Minister Timothy D Shira, Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N Marak, along with cabinet ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries.
Reflecting on the MEA government’s eight-year journey since assuming office on 6 March 2018, Sangma acknowledged the challenges it faced, and thanked citizens for their support.
“Our journey has been filled with challenges and difficulties, but with the blessings from above and the support of our people, we have been able to overcome most of them,” he said.
Sangma said the state’s progress had gained national recognition, noting that he had received a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Meghalaya Day, congratulating the state on its development trajectory and economic transformation.
“Who would have imagined that a small state like Meghalaya would one day compete with some of the most advanced states in the country? Yet today, we stand among them in terms of economic growth,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister had also appreciated the state’s fiscal discipline.
Highlighting the shared sense of purpose among those working in government, he said, “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.”
“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.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong described the event as an important milestone and said assistance worth around Rs 220 crore was distributed to beneficiaries during the programme.
“In a single day, the government is distributing around Rs 220 crore directly to the people for their welfare,” he said.
During the programme, the Chief Minister launched several initiatives and welfare schemes. These included the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for 2025-26, worth over Rs 5 crore and benefiting 98,751 students, as well as a Uniform Grant through Direct Benefit Transfer amounting to over Rs 3 crore for 50,000 students.
Sangma also remotely inaugurated 101 community halls across the state under the Project for Community-Based Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in Meghalaya, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.
Additionally, eight warehouses and Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in the Garo Hills region were inaugurated under the CM Elevate initiative to strengthen local value chains and support community-based enterprises.
Beneficiaries of various schemes—including CM Farm+, CM Elevate, and the CM Homestay Mission—shared their experiences at the event, highlighting how the programmes have supported farmers, entrepreneurs and local tourism.
Speaker Thomas A Sangma congratulated the Chief Minister for becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister in Meghalaya’s history and called for cooperation between the government and opposition to achieve the state’s development vision.
The programme, which began with the state anthem, also featured a presentation highlighting the government’s achievements over the past eight years and its roadmap under Vision 2032, aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities across Meghalaya.
