Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya’s economy has doubled since 2018. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma revealed the milestone during Independence Day celebrations at Polo Grounds. The state now ranks as the third fastest-growing in India over the past five years. Sangma credited the government’s focus on infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and education for the surge. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for central support.
Development efforts focus on three pillars: protecting land, empowering people, and upholding culture. Sangma highlighted that the state maintains 76 percent forest cover. The Green Meghalaya Plus program incentivizes locals to guard natural forests. Officials have mapped 60,000 springs and built 500 water-harvesting structures. The state is also moving toward scientific mining to support small miners.
Agriculture remains a priority. Through initiatives like CM Farm Plus and the Organic, Floriculture, and Ginger Missions, the government provides high-value crops to 25,000 farmers across 12 districts. Health metrics show sharp gains since 2020. Maternal deaths dropped by 56 percent, and infant deaths fell by nearly 40 percent. The Safe Motherhood Scheme transported over one lakh pregnant women, including 15,800 high-risk cases.
Education and jobs are expanding. Meghalaya’s Performance Grading Index score rose from 448 to 525 in one year. The CM Skills Mission has trained 55,000 youths since 2022. Entrepreneurship programs like PRIME and CM-ELEVATE continue to generate jobs. Tourism is booming. Annual visitors jumped from 10 lakh in 2018 to nearly 18 lakh today. Sangma noted, "Tourism has not just created income. It has brought dignity."
Sports investment is climbing ahead of the 39th National Games. Officials have completed or started 20,000 grassroots projects, while the STAR program supports 2,400 athletes. Sangma pushed youths to choose sports over drugs. The CM Connect helpline has assisted one lakh citizens since 2024. The government continues to lobby for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Sangma also pointed to the 2022 border agreement with Assam that settled disputes in six of 12 contested areas.
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