SHILLONG, Feb 17: The NPP is bearing the brunt of criticisms although it was one of the constituents of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, party spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh said on Friday.
With the February 27 elections drawing near, the alliance partners have been slamming the NPP for alleged scams and corruption.
Lyngdoh said the NPP-led MDA has corrected the errors of the past, helping ‘brand Meghalaya’ earn recognition.
“Conrad Sangma’s government has been able to bring in significant development and change the narrative on Meghalaya, once known for law-and-order issues. Recognition, accolades and rankings improved drastically. Brand Meghalaya needed to be curated to draw investments and tourists,” she asserted.
“The United Nations award for the Meghalaya government’s digital initiative contributed to Meghalaya’s story-building,” she said, adding: “This was a critical effort where Meghalaya showcased to the world that while it made a late entry into digital governance, it has gained significant momentum and has caught up to the stalwarts.”
She recalled that Meghalaya was awarded the best state in Startup India Awards and top-ranked along with Karnataka and Gujarat. “Despite being a small state, Meghalaya has advanced steadily,” she said.
Regarding central schemes, the NPP-led government’s achievements have been astonishing, Lyngdoh said. “Between 2018 and 2022, the MDA government constructed more roads than all the previous governments did in 20 years. The SHG revolution under this government has been unprecedented. From 5,000 SHGs in 2018, Meghalaya now has 43,000 SHGs. In schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Meghalaya has been exemplary,” she added.
“The recognition shows the government has given attention to people who have talent,” she said while referring to the successful holding of the North East Olympic and Meghalaya Games.
Terming the government as pro-farmer which helped farmers with grassroots empowerment, Lyngdoh downplayed all criticisms against the government and said they have performed well.
She continued to heap praises on the MDA, saying the previous governments had built tourism circuits that did not bear fruit.
On the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, she said it was a participatory decision taken by the government in which people decided where they want to stay.
Countering the allegations that Meghalaya gave its land to Assam, Lyngdoh defended the pact saying a Congress leader himself had stressed the need to adopt the policy of “give and take” to resolve the matter and in this pact, Meghalaya did not give much but got the most from Assam.
