Tura, March 4: The Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) Central Executive Body has written to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma seeking the fulfillment of the vision of the first Chief Minister of the state, Capt. Williamson Sangma for a Winter Capital in the town of Tura – the second largest in the state.
In a letter submitted yesterday, AHAM stated that at the time of Meghalaya’s formation in 1972, Late Captain W.A. Sangma laid out a vision for equitable representation and development.
“His proposal to establish Tura as a winter capital was intended to decentralize governance, thereby ensuring that the people of Garo Hills region would not remain perennially underrepresented or underserved. By recognizing Tura as the winter capital for six months each year, the state would honor his legacy of inclusivity and balanced regional growth,” said AHAM president, Georgeprince Ch Momin.
AHAM further listed reasons on why Tura deserved to be the winter capital which included the need to represent all parts of the state equally, the geographic and economic considerations, balanced regional development, equitable resource distribution, stimulation of public and private investment, cultural enhancement among others.
“The presence of all three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—in Tura for half the year will ensure that governance is accessible and responsive to the needs of the local population. The shift in administrative functions to Tura will help address long-standing developmental disparities, ensuring that government attention and resources are not solely concentrated in Shillong,” he added.
AHAM pointed to the recent announcement of Assam’s CM, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma of declaring Dibrugarh as a second capital and how he felt it would decentralise governance.
