In the past eight years, with the blessings of the central government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not just Meghalaya but the entire Northeast is transforming.
-Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister
Shillong, Sept 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has termed “historic” the maiden visit of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan to Meghalaya and that it made the people of the state feel as cared for.
“As mentioned by the Chief Minister, my relationship with PA Sangma was very strong and quite old. We all know, and the entire country knows, PA Sangma ji. I am very proud to remember him here,” he said.
Recalling PA Sangma’s significant role as a Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker, he said, “As a Minister and as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, he made remarkable imprints in the history of Indian politics.”
“Your visit today is truly historic for us. It makes us feel inclusive. It makes us feel wanted. It makes us feel that our leaders care about us. This is the beginning of many more visits and a strong bond between our state, our people and you,” Sangma said while addressing the felicitation of the Vice President.
The Vice President also laid the foundation stones for five major infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1010 crore in Shillong.
He said the bond dates back to the friendship between the Vice President and late P A Sangma when both were members of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha.
Noting that Meghalaya is 54-year old, Sangma said the state has witnessed many ups and downs but its greatest strength has been its community, traditional systems and cultural identity that existed even before formal governance.
“In the past eight years, with the blessings of the central government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not just Meghalaya but the entire Northeast is transforming,” he said.
Sangma said there was a time when Meghalaya figured at the bottom of national rankings, but consistent effort, vision, teamwork, enterprise of youth, work of women SHGs and farmers have changed that.
“Today Meghalaya is one of the fastest growing economies in the country at almost 12.8 per cent, something unimaginable 10 years ago,” he said.
He, however, said growth cannot be measured by GSDP alone and the government’s model is holistic.
“For us, economic growth must create opportunities for youngsters, value for farmers and improve health. It is not acceptable that even as we grow, mothers lose lives while giving birth,” he said.
He said Meghalaya had an MMR of over 250, double the national average, but has now brought it down by more than 55 per cent – the highest percentage decline in the country.
On education, he said the state moved from 410 points in Akanshi-III, the lowest in PGI index, to over 520 in Akanshi-I within two years, which is the highest improvement by any state.Sangma added that despite pursuing growth, the state will not forget its roots, culture and identity.
“We have many challenges, but if community and society work together, we will achieve our goal of making Meghalaya one of the top ten states,” he said.
