Jagdeep Dhankhar praises Meghalaya’s development initiatives in Shillong

On his first official visit to Shillong, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar toured the IT Park at Mawdiangdiang alongside Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, praising the state’s development initiatives. Dhankhar emphasized that achieving developed status goes beyond GDP growth, highlighting the importance of long-term planning and strategic governance under Sangma’s leadership. “Development is not just about numbers; it requires time and a solid foundation. Meghalaya, through the ’10 Guarantees’ under Chief Minister Sangma, is making significant strides toward becoming a developed state,” Dhankhar stated. He stressed the need for a rational approach, considering the availability of resources and human capital. The Vice President also pointed out the importance of building essential infrastructure such as roads and connectivity with a forward-thinking mindset. He commended Meghalaya’s focus on key sectors like education, health, technology, and sports, ensuring a balanced growth strategy.

Chief Minister Sangma presented a comprehensive overview of the state’s developmental roadmap. He highlighted the government’s mission to push growth in preparation for Meghalaya’s 60th anniversary in 2023, with a vision of achieving ‘Developed Meghalaya.’ Sangma explained that the state’s development strategy is built on four pillars: creating aspirations, community collaboration, capacity building, and forging partnerships. The Chief Minister acknowledged the geographical challenges of Meghalaya’s 7,000 rural villages but assured the Vice President that targeted programmes are in place to uplift youth, women, and farmers. Sangma further noted that the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown by 15% since 2021, driven by increased investment, tax collection, and funding from the 15th Finance Commission and Externally Aided Projects (EAPs).

Additionally, Sangma reported a significant increase in the state budget from ₹12,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore, with capital expenditure rising by 2.75 times. He also highlighted ongoing initiatives to boost agriculture, sports, music, education, and healthcare, which are priorities for his government.