Shillong, Nov 5: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visited West Jaintia Hills today, inaugurating completed projects and laying foundation stones for new ones during a day-long tour. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Sports & Youth Affairs and Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla were also present.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Block Integrated Development Complex at Thadlaskein C&RD Block, jointly inaugurated with Kwit Sari, Community Stewardship and Raij Leader, Sangma outlined his government’s three-pillar development model.
The first pillar is infrastructure, with priority on physical assets such as roads, schools, health centres and stadiums. He said nearly 70% of such spending in recent years has gone to the sports sector.
The second is personalised benefits, meaning direct financial transfers and resources to individuals. “The government has transferred around Rs 400 Crs to students via various scholarships programs and support for SHGs has grown from Rs 50 Crs to about Rs 1400 Crs and farmers have received close to Rs 300 Crs through different programs like FOCUS+, CM Assure etc,” he said.
The third is the preservation of culture and tradition, which involves protecting local identity by supporting community traditions regardless of faith or region.
He added that the government emphasises involving traditional heads and community leaders directly in governance and development.
At the event, the Chief Minister felicitated achievers and distributed start-up tools to trainees, along with Maternal & Child Care Kits.
Earlier in the day, Sangma laid the foundation stone of the Integrated Hospital at Ummulong, inspected the Iawmusiang Shopping Complex and Thadlaskein Hospitality Complex, and inaugurated the Shooting Range at Khliehtyrchi.
In the roads sector, the Chief Minister inaugurated construction, improvement and upgradation of roads at Ialong, Jowai, Madur Thymme, Mukhla and Niriang, totalling 38.163 km, under the PWD (Roads), Jowai South Division. He also laid foundation stones for the metalling and blacktopping of the Sabah Muswang internal village road (2.450 km, under RIDF-XXX) and the internal road at Khliehtyrshi Village (4.085 km, under RIDF-XXXI), as well as for boundary fencing of the Thomas Jones Synod College, Jowai.
In school education, the District School Education Officer inaugurated an additional school building at Government Girls HSS, Jowai, and laid foundation stones for L.P. School buildings at Mukhla Sohshrieh, Niriang and Mokaswan.
On the sports front, the District Sports Officer laid foundation stones for an Aquatic Complex at Jowai; a synthetic athletic track, football ground upgrade, VIP gallery and chain-link fencing at Kiang Nangbah Stadium, Jowai; an artificial football ground with a retaining wall around its periphery at Mukhla Sohshrieh; a football ground, VIP gallery and protection grill at Mukhla Umlangshor; and a retaining wall cum boundary fencing for the football ground at Madan Thad Mukhla. Athletes Pritam Sunar and Sawakani Lakiang were felicitated for their recent awards.
In health, the District Medical & Health Officer inaugurated the Madur and Lad Mukhla Sub-Centres, and laid foundation stones for the Ialong, Sabahmuswang and Ksehrynshang Sub-Centres.
The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills, inaugurated the renovation of Kiang Nangbah Stadium, while the Skill Development Officer distributed start-up tools to 181 trainees.
