SHILLONG: The new chief minister seems to have got down to the brass tacks immediately after being sworn in. Conrad Sangma has issued a clarion call for financial discipline in Meghalaya with a view to the fact that the state lacks financial resources.
Addressing his first press conference as chief minister here on Tuesday, Conrad said financial resources in the state should be used in a manner to ensure maximum productivity and minimum wastage.
He said the government would try to implement as many austerity measures as possible.
According to Conrad, there are a lot many economic issues to be addressed and the state is going through a difficult phase. The new government is committed to the people and will work sincerely to resolve all the issues, although it is futile to hope that all problems could be ironed out in one go, he said.
“We will try to work not only with the ruling parties but also the opposition to ensure constructive contribution of all leaders from all political parties, he said, adding that the government’s focus would be on the entire state and not just particular regions.
Emphasising the need for improving governance, Conrad said his focus as CM would not be to find faults but to hammer out solutions to persisting problems.
He also pointed out that the government would focus on infrastructure, particularly on improving connectivity in the rural areas of the state.
The new chief minister maintained that the government’s priority would be to tackle the challenges in the education sector, particularly the problem of paucity of teachers. The new government would make all efforts to provide medication and health facilities in the rural areas, he added.
In addition, the government would endeavour to boost tourism as the sector requires a focused approach, the chief minister asserted.
Boosting ties with neighbours
Stressing on the importance of maintaining cordial and constructive relations with the neighbouring states, the chief minister said Meghalaya would not spoil relations with any state. He made the statement in the context of protests for alleged encroachments by Assam.
“We are concerned about the dispute and it is a part of our agenda,” he said, adding that due process would be followed in resolving the dispute which is high on the new government’s priority list.
Militancy: Zero tolerance
On the much-discussed and rather prickly issue of militancy that has often threatened to derail development in the state, Conrad said the government is clear on not initiating talks with any militant outfit as militants have been repeatedly asked to lay down arms.
Asserting that militancy is on the wane in Meghalaya, he said prevailing socio-economic ills had resulted in the upsurge of militancy in the past decades.
For long militancy has been targeted as a festering sore but the problem requires a multi-pronged approach and the need is to address socio-economic issues plaguing the youth that result in militancy, he said while assuring that the government would deal with law and order threats with an iron hand.
‘ILP not a cure-all’
Dwelling on the contentious issue of influx and illegal immigration, the chief minister acknowledged that it was a major problem not only for the state but also the entire region.
With climate change emerging as a great challenge confronting humanity there is bound to be incremental rise in sea levels resulting in mass migration thereby exacerbating the problem of illegal influx, he opined.
Asked about the government’s stand on the implementation of the Inner Liner Permit (ILP) in the state, Conrad replied: “We should understand the problem and not try to fit it into a particular solution.”
Stating that the issue requires a dynamic solution, he added that one has to understand whether the ILP will be enough to resolve the issue.
“It is not about bringing ILP but to minimise immigration and if we keep that in mind I think the people will realise that the ILP might not be the best solution,” he asserted while assuring that the government is committed to finding a long-term solution to the problem and will, therefore, examine the feasibility of the ILP.
