Shillong: Meghalaya is sending a new wave of research fellows across all 60 Assembly constituencies. They aim to fix data gaps and turn development plans into reality. Dr. Aarushi Jain of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy announced the move Wednesday at a workshop held at the Secretariat Wellness Centre in Shillong. The Meghalaya Institute of Governance and the Indian School of Business organized the event.
Fellows will partner with legislators to find economic growth triggers. They want local strategies for local needs. Dr. Jain reported that 36 Constituency Development Plans have cleared their first phase, with work ongoing for the remainder. She said the goal is to shift from planning to implementation. "The objective, she said, was to complete plans for all 60 constituencies and move from planning to implementation."
District research fellows will also assist Deputy Commissioners and Autonomous District Councils. They will look deep into education and healthcare, tracking progress through Key Result Areas and Key Performance Indicators over one, three, and five years. Researchers will gather household data using scientific sampling. Technical teams will then use causal loop diagrams and input-output modelling to build district growth strategies.
Dr. Andrew Simons, adviser to the Assembly, said the fellowship has built state research capacity. MIG Director Aiban Swer told the new cohort to engage legislators with probing questions. Fellows will also handle social impact assessments and road transport projects. The workshop included a leadership panel with MLAs Renikton L Tongkhar, Miani D Shira, and Santa Mary Shylla. It also launched a Certificate Programme in Public Policy.
Comments