SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated Mawlai C&RD Block and laid the foundation stone for the block office building at Mawlai Mawtawar on Thursday.
Addressing locals at the function, Sangma termed the occasion as “a humble beginning” and urged people to script a success story from this.
Sangma said due to large population, the quantum of benefits does not reach the public. “We have the problem of resources, funds for the government will always be a challenge,” he added.
Asserting that the creation of the block will bridge the gap between the 24 villages under the block and the district administration, the chief minister said, “It is not success story per se. Take advantage of the humble beginning and ensure that all of you will be able to connect with a number of schemes.”
He handed over Rs 25 lakh worth government work order to the Village Employment Council, Lummasing, Mawlai Mawtawar.
Recalling that there was a time when the State Government thought of not creating any more jobs, he said, “But we cannot remain stagnant as it generates frustration and anger which make people lose hope and that is not good for democracy.”
Tourism dream
The chief minister said Mawlai Mawtawar is “beautiful and charming” and supported Mawlai MLA Embhahlang Syiemlieh’s view of developing the place into a tourist spot at the site of the permanent office of the block.
The CM proposed that a part of the land can be used for tourist viewpoint.
Sangma also encouraged people to start home-stays, eco-resorts and plan greenery to attract tourists and for local people to get employment. “Meghalaya has the demand and hence it should go for high-end tourism,” he added.
Sangma urged the officers present to give the people training in entrepreneurship.
Also the CM encouraged the people to promote local delicacies and delicacies of other states like South India. Citing the example of China, the chief minister said, “China has invaded the whole world with their food.”
Benami transaction
Speaking on Benami transaction that has been the contentious issue, he told the gathering that Benami transaction is for doing business in the name of our tribal people.
“People are cheating our people. We know who are doing so. But we have to think of our jaitbynriew (community) and our future we have to tell them that it should start from Dorbar and villages,” said Sangma.
“I am telling this because Mawlai is known as a place where discussion to take care of the interests of jaitbynriew has started,” he added.
According to the CM, to tackle the issue of Benami Transaction, the local Dorbar should take the initiative and direct that business should be done by tribals themselves and not non-tribals who do business in the name of tribals.
Stating that the indigenous people comprising Khasi, Jaintia and Garo have the ownership of land as well as the law and the system, he went on saying that the people should be honest to the rights that they have inherited.
Three policies
Mawlai MLA Syiemlieh on Thursday urged the chief minister to adopt three policies – youth, sports and tourism.
Speaking on the significance of a block, the MLA said, “The block office will nurture youth of the state. But there is no youth policy, sports policy and tourism policy.”
He claimed that he spoke about the three policies in the last Assembly elections.
Syiemlieh thanked the CM for the C&RD Block as it is “a dream come true” for the people. “It is an aspiration of the people which will be remembered. I thank the state government for the positive step in bringing the government close to the people,” he said.
Referring to the creation of Mawpat block, he said, “Mawpat and Mawtawar are twins and the mother is Mylliem C&RD Block.”
“If there are funds, a view point can be constructed as a tourist spot,” he added.
Later, Syiemlieh handed over a joint memorandum of Mawlai Town Dorbar and Dorbar Shnong of Mawlai Mawtawar with a request to include the whole of Mawlai areas and Mawlai constituency under the MGNREGS.
‘Long live Sawkmie’
PT Sawkmie, MDC Mawlai, heaped praises on Sangma terming him a dynamic leader of the state.
Informing the gathering that the budget allocation for C&RD is over Rs 1,731.57 crore, he said, “I salute (the CM) that it is not a shallow promise, Mawlai people are very fortunate. He is the best chief minister and even better in financial management.”
On the occasion, the MDC presented a memorandum to the CM demanding that Mawlai Block be upgraded to Civil Sub-Division.
As he presented the memorandum to the chief minister, Sawkmie’s supporters who were sitting behind in the crowd stood up and chanted, “Long live PT Sawkmie.”
