From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: The hill state of Meghalaya is undergoing a transformation and there is an irreversible political will for change for better development, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said on Friday.
“The forest and mineral rich state has also taken many giant steps in the field of infrastructure to exploit its vast potential,” Dr Sangma said, while speaking at the final panel featuring chief ministers of select states in the Asian Development Bank’s board meeting at Greater Noida.
The panelists were discussing development paradigms being pursued by their governments as also highlight noteworthy investment opportunities. The organization of ‘India Day’ as part of the ADB meeting is being coordinated by Invest India, a joint venture of FICCI and DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The panel of eminent speakers was led by Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, who articulated the government’s vision for the Indian economy and underlined its strong investment credentials.
Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, elucidated the government’s initiatives for infrastructure development, followed by the eminent panelists.
Dr Sangma said that even though a small state, Meghalaya has taken up many large infrastructural projects especially in the road sector most of which are nearing competition.
“The State Government launched the Meghalaya Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme in 2012 to develop its human resources by enhancing their employability and income-earning potential.
As part of this Programme, the Meghalaya Employment Promotion Council (MEPC) has been constituted with the mandate to support placement-linked skill development within and outside the state, by involving the private sector, Dr Sangma said.
Nine missions have been launched to develop the aquaculture, horticulture, livestock, sericulture, tourism, forestry and plantation crops, apiculture, energy, and water sectors. Each mission has identified the need for major upgrading of skills, he added.
The Meghalaya Trade Promotion Organization has been set up to provide supporting market infrastructure and facilitate enterprise development.
On its part, ADB is supporting the State Government’s efforts towards human capital development through a major project.