Shillong, Apr 25: Utilising robotics and AI in farming is among the plans as Meghalaya aspires to becoming a hub of IT and digital services in the North East. Towards this goal, the state has already taken initiatives such as expansion of Shillong Tech Parks, enhancement of fibre-optic reach and infrastructure to support the digital ecosystem.
Chief minister Conrad k Sangma informed about these technological interventions while virtually inaugurating a two-day workshop on Emerging Technologies at State Convention Centre here on Thursday.
The chief minister stressed the need for transformative power of technology in governance, citing it as a tool to solve real-world problems and improve existing public systems.
He highlighted the success of Meghalaya’s e-Proposal and digital file movement systems under the Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture framework.
Underscoring the state’s push for blockchain integration, Sangma announced that Meghalaya will soon implement a blockchain-based employee data and promotion tracking system beginning with the police department.
This, he said, would reduce delays and enhance transparency in recruitment and career progression across government departments.
He also shared the remarkable progress the state has made in reducing maternal mortality by nearly 50% through the use of technology in tracking and supporting high-risk pregnancies.
He also spoke about a pioneering initiative to install IoT sensors across the state’s 70,000 water springs to gather real-time data for improved water resource management, adding that the project aims to support better planning and conservation efforts.
Further, drawing from a recent study visit to Japan, the chief minister discussed cutting-edge farming models utilizing robotics and AI in greenhouse farming.
He expressed the state’s intent to replicate such technologies in Meghalaya, especially in crops like strawberries and lettuce, to enhance agricultural productivity.
He added that emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality will be explored in Meghalaya’s tourism sector to create immersive digital experiences and global visibility for the state’s cultural and natural heritage.
He called for deeper collaboration with NeGD, IndiaAI, and other partners to ensure inclusive technological progress across the state, from urban centres to remote villages.
The two-day workshop will include technical sessions focusing on artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, UX in governance and public digital infrastructure.
It aims to deepen the understanding of technology’s role in shaping future-ready governance, aligned with the state government’s ‘Digital Meghalaya’ vision and national missions such as Digital India and IndiaAI.
Chief secretary DP Wahlang spoke about the establishment of the state government’s Drone Technology Lab, which is now being used for high-resolution mapping in sectors such as mining, forestry, and tourism.
He commended the use of VR in legal education, citing its integration at the National Law University in Shillong.
He also emphasised on building digital ecosystem, not just in infrastructure but in local language accessibility, such as the upcoming integration of Khasi and Garo languages into the AI-powered Bhashini app.
Joining virtually, Nand Kumaram, president and CEO of NeGD, emphasised the need for a shift from pilot projects to scalable, product-oriented technology solutions.
He underscored the importance of collaboration with startups and educational institutions, citing Rajasthan’s IT Cadre model and national initiatives like the Bhashini platform and AI Mission as successful case studies.
