Select group of Cabinet, MLAs attend Meghalaya Day function
SHILLONG: The onus of implementing and executing the schemes and plans of the state is on the bureaucrats.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said this during the 44th Meghalaya Day celebrations held at U Soso Tham auditorium here on Thursday.
“Implementation and proper execution of the programmes of the government should be the mantra of the officers,” he said.
“We have set a new benchmark for the people where it is time to execute and implement initiatives for the people,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister reminded the government functionaries to direct their efforts to make lives better for the less privileged and resolve to share the benefit of growth and prosperity among all the people by driving the programmes with selflessness and dedication.
However, there was thin attendance for the major function as many Ministers from the cabinet were not present.
Those who attended the function were just two cabinet ministers from the city Roshan Warjri and AL Hek besides three legislators Kennedy Khyriem, Chief Minister’s wife Dikkanchi D Shira and Bluebell Sangma who are considered close associates of the Chief Minister , exposing lack of togetherness in celebrating such an important function. There were no representatives from Jaintia Hills, Ribhoi and West Khasi Hills. The Opposition Leader and other legislators were also not present in the function which was meant to celebrate the Meghalaya Day collectively.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that with the kind of ideas and initiatives, the state government had embarked upon, the government would be able to eradicate poverty within 10 to 15 years.
He admitted that poverty and backwardness are major concerns of the government.
He urged the state leaders to be optimists so as to generate a sense of hope among the people, “As we learn from the past and strategize for the future, our efforts should be to seek better lives for the less privileged.”
The Chief Minister highlighted that there are many initiatives taken up by the Government for the young people, single mothers and others.
“It is time to execute and implement these initiatives. We have no reason to be poor, provided we have vision to execute these ideas and to do justice to the privileges we enjoy.”
He also mentioned that a number of initiatives were embarked upon by the State Government to address the problems of poverty and backwardness, “When the MLAs visit their constituencies, they are confronted by problems faced by poor parents who narrate that their children are compelled to drop out of school as they are unable to afford their children’s education.”
The Chief Minister said that there has been a substantial progress in addressing the contentious issues, though there are unforeseen challenges, and the state has been able to take care of its fiscal health which has led to an increase in externally aided projects. He also congratulated the officials who made efforts in bringing down the fiscal deficit.