SHILLONG, June 16: Governor Phagu Chauhan on Friday lauded the state government for taking forward the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed nation in all spheres, while stating that Meghalaya has made significant progress over the years.
Chauhan said this while addressing ‘Vartalap — a Media Workshop on 9 Years of Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan’ to mark the completion of nine years of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
Organised by the Press Information Bureau, Shillong, the programme here was attended by the Governor as the chief guest.
Opining that the Northeast has witnessed an unprecedented pace of progress from infrastructural developments to enhanced connectivity, Chauhan said, “The three words—Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan define the journey of the nine years of the Narendra Modi Government.”
Speaking on the government’s efforts on unlocking the immense potential of the region, Chauhan highlighted the progress in Meghalaya in these nine years. “Meghalaya has made significant progress during these years”
He lauded the Meghalaya government for taking forward the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed nation in all spheres.
“These nine years have been dedicated to bring about development which is inclusive, progressive, and sustainable. The government has been steadfast in its commitment of creating opportunity for all citizens. The government has always believed in setting challenging targets, and achieving them before the set deadline,” Chauhan said, adding that there has been an unprecedented shift towards people-centric and result-oriented governance.
Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary of Planning department, Joram Beda, said the state government has been in the front row in terms of integrating development and allied agenda of the Government of India at central level as well as at United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals at global level.
According to Beda, the government has identified six strategic pillars of development i.e., Human Development, Infrastructure, Primary Sector, Entrepreneurship, Environment, and Governance, adding the State has focused on performance and output-based approach towards development by making it an integral part of the planning process.
“Over the last five years, Meghalaya has been among the leading performers in implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes. Programs like MGNREGS, PMGSY and Jal Jeevan Mission are being implemented at an accelerated rate. Several mission mode interventions in the sectors of horticulture, livestock and fisheries have improved the income of over one lakh farmers and put us on track to doubling farmers’ incomes,” he said, while informing that Meghalaya has made noticeable progress in health indices over the last few years as the immunisation rates have increased from 57% to 91% and institutional deliveries have increased from 46% to 64%.
He said Meghalaya’s strongest contribution over the last five years has been the development of a collaborative model of governance based on working together with traditional institutions, women’s groups, farmers’ cooperatives and youth organisations to create a strong ‘Team Meghalaya’.
Meanwhile, Editor of The Shillong Times Patricia Mukhim talked on Propelling Life: Environment and Sustainability.
She said the gap between the implementation and planning of central programmes has to be bridged as every government scheme and programme must reach the last mile.
Lamenting that many rules for protection of the environment continue to be violated, Mukhim said natural resources like rivers and forests must be safeguarded and there is no excuse for destructive livelihood.
Giving a critical analysis of the implementation of central programmes in Meghalaya, she said there is too much environmental studies in classrooms with no connection to the real world.
Lauding Judiciary for doing more to prevent environment disasters in the state, she advocated the need to make environmental clearances more stringent in the state for initiating projects.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SP Dharkar, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, BDR Tiwari, among others.
