From Our Reporter
SOHRA, Jan 11: The Cabinet Retreats will now be institutionalised as regular events, aiming for annual or even biannual sessions to ensure continuous review and effective implementation of policies. This decision was made by the Meghalaya government following the recently concluded two-day cabinet retreat in Sohra, held on January 10 and 11, which focused on critical sectors such as tourism, health, and social welfare.
Tourism and Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh emphasised the importance of these retreats in fostering in-depth discussions and interdepartmental collaboration. “This retreat has been an eye-opener, and we’ve already decided to hold similar sessions regularly. It allows us to dedicate uninterrupted time to addressing critical issues and tracking progress,” he said.
A key takeaway from the retreat was the government’s commitment to adopting a high-value, low-volume tourism model to boost the state’s economy while maintaining sustainability. Lyngdoh underscored the sector’s importance, stating, “Tourism is a major driver of the state’s economy, supporting roughly 50,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries. If you include their families, the sector impacts over 2.5 lakh people.”
With the rapid increase in tourist footfalls, the government is now shifting its focus to providing quality experiences over attracting large numbers. “As Meghalaya has seen rapid growth in tourism, we want to ensure that high-value, low-volume tourism becomes our priority,” Lyngdoh added.
The serene and historic setting of Sohra was chosen as the venue for the retreat, reflecting its symbolic significance. “Sohra is the oldest capital town of Northeast India, predating Shillong as the headquarters of undivided Assam in 1874. It deserves this retreat,” Lyngdoh noted.
The retreat also served as a platform to address infrastructure gaps and enhance collaboration among departments. One significant issue discussed was the shortage of Anganwadi centers under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). “We have a shortage of 1,200 such centres in the state,” Lyngdoh pointed out. To address this, the Social Welfare and Health Departments proposed utilising existing health facilities in villages without Anganwadi centres. “This approach saves cost, space, and time while ensuring better integration of government programmes,” he explained.
The retreat also brought attention to Meghalaya’s approach to tackling drug addiction. Lyngdoh identified a critical gap in the current system, where many addicts are sent directly to rehabilitation centres without undergoing de-addiction treatment. “This leads to a higher chance of relapse because the root cause of addiction remains untreated. De-addiction treatment should precede rehabilitation,” he said, advocating for a more structured and effective intervention plan.