Sutnga-Saipung legislator highlights need to ‘protect life without completely destroying livelihood’
Shillong, Feb 25: NPP legislator from Sutnga-Saipung Santa Mary Shylla on Wednesday backed the government’s budget and appealed for a regulated traditional mining framework, saying prohibition since 2014 has devastated families in East Jaintia Hills.
“For decades, traditional small-scale mining has sustained local households. Since the ban in 2014, thousands have suffered unemployment, debt, forced migration, and deep economic distress. Many children have dropped out of school, and families have been pushed into poverty due to lack of viable livelihood alternatives. While safety, environmental protection, and lawful regulation are essential, prohibition without livelihood transition has worsened the ground realities. We must protect life without completely destroying livelihood,” Shylla said while participating in the budget discussion.
“I urge the government to fast-track scientific and regulated mining mechanisms and, if possible, to initiate the framing of a specific law for traditional mining practices, in consultation with the Union Mining Minister… so that livelihood, safety, and legality can go hand in hand,” she said.
She added that livelihood support and skill development must reach affected families.
Thanking Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Shylla said Mission 10 reflects a government “that listens, plans, and delivers.”
She highlighted road projects that have moved from request to sanction — NH-6 strengthening (Jowai–Malidor), Borghat–Sonapur, Rymbai–Bataw–Borghat, and PMGSY roads connecting Narwan, Jalaphet, Semasi, Pala, Lakasein, Mukhian and others — and the conversion of weak bridges into permanent RCC spans.
“For decades, traditional small-scale mining sustained households… Since the ban, thousands have suffered unemployment, debt, forced migration… We must protect life without completely destroying livelihood,” she said.
Shylla welcomed a ₹15 crore sanction for a new model degree college at Jalaphet and Mission Education’s ₹360 crore programme to upgrade more than 2,000 schools, noting 97% completion across three phases.
She said constituents “stand firmly with the Government in its endeavour to build a stronger, more connected Meghalaya.”
