NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help from the central government to fulfil the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government’s $10 billion economy dream in five years and also to propel Meghalaya’s growth to make it one of the best ten states in the country.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who led a high-level delegation during his meeting with the PM, told Modi that the total cost of ongoing and proposed projects under externally aided projects (EAPs), stands at approximately Rs 11,576 crore.
The projects cover vital sectors such as roads, tourism, power distribution, agriculture marketing, skill development, healthcare, water harvesting, and climate resilience, he said.
“Prime Minister ji has assured that all support from the Government of India will be extended to Meghalaya for the growth and progress of the state,” Sangma said.
To achieve this $10-billion target, the state requires to double its economy through investments in physical and social infrastructure, which will drive sustainable growth and employment opportunities, he pointed out.
“The state government has actively pursued private investments and aims to foster a robust private sector. Despite efforts, inherent challenges related to land tenure systems, remoteness, and rugged terrain have constrained private investments. Therefore, public investments, including those from EAPs, are crucial to boost the state’s economy. These projects, which account for around 72% of the project cost as grants from the Government of India to the Northeastern and hill states, form a pivotal component of the investment portfolio,” the CM said in a memorandum submitted to the PM.
He also informed that the state government has successfully posed and received approvals for several projects under this merit-based system.
Presently, eight projects worth Rs 5,855 crore (loan component of Rs 4,266 crore) are being implemented, while another ten projects are in the preparatory phase with an estimated project cost of Rs 5,721 crore (loan component of Rs 4,610 crore), he said.
The Prime Minister was elated to hear about Meghalaya’s “lifecycle approach” model, wherein holistic interventions are being made to ensure that at every stage in the child’s life, the government plays its role in ensuring that the necessary support is given.
“The first 1,000 days for a child is very crucial and through the early childhood programme, we will aid in supporting and supplementing the requirement for the child,” he stressed.
Sangma also said that through different interventions, the state government is trying to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people in Meghalaya.
‘Help Meghalaya students caught
in Manipur uncertainty’
Earlier on Monday, Sangma requested Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar to impress upon the authorities of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal to make an interim arrangement for the students of Meghalaya pursuing their 4th year of B.Sc (Agriculture).
Sangma submitted a letter to the Union minister in this regard.
He requested the Central minister to make arrangements, so the students can conduct their Rural Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE) programme in Meghalaya under the aegis of CAU located at Kyrdemkulai, which is a constituent college of CAU, Imphal.
Sangma appealed to Tomar to relocate all students from Meghalaya studying at CAU, Imphal to CAU campus in Kyrdemkulai until normalcy returns to violence-hit Manipur, so they can continue their education without any interruption.
He highlighted how the state government, in coordination with the Central government, facilitated the safe return of Meghalayans from Manipur. Not only students, families, which had moved to the state for employment, were also safely evacuated.