By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 10: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday unveiled Meghalaya’s ambitious roadmap to achieve Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs 85,787 crore, approximately USD 10 billion, by the 2028 fiscal.
During his reply to the debate on the budget, Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, highlighted the transformative infrastructure projects, enhanced investment strategies, and citizen-centric schemes. He expressed confidence that the state’s development trajectory will reshape its economic landscape.
He thanked the members for their participation in the budget discussions, mentioning that a record 34 of them took part.
He underscored that Meghalaya’s budget tripled over the past decade, rising from Rs 9,858 crore during 2012-18 to Rs 27,072 crore in 2024-25. Investments from Externally Aided Projects have surged three-fold, reaching Rs 7,427 crore, he added.
The chief minister mentioned that Rs 4,000 crore was sanctioned for road infrastructure in the past seven years as against Rs 659 crore spent on roads over the previous three decades.
He said initiatives such as the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project and the Meghalaya Eco-Industrial Growth Accelerator are expected to play pivotal roles in improving connectivity and driving economic growth. Speaking about Meghalaya’s strategic push to create employment opportunities, Sangma said the Shillong IT Park Phases I and II, along with the Tura Tech Park, are projected to generate around 22,000 direct and indirect jobs. Additionally, he said, the upcoming 39th National Games is expected to create 15,000 employment opportunities across sectors.
The chief minister highlighted Meghalaya’s calculated strategy for employment growth based on the KLEMS model, which estimates that the state’s interventions could generate 5 lakh jobs across sectors.
Stating that education and skill development are central to Meghalaya’s growth strategy, he said the state has upgraded 2,611 schools to improve learning outcomes and is actively enhancing youth employability through the Skills Meghalaya initiative.
“The CM Skills Mission will empower 1 lakh youth for the local economy, 10,000 for the national economy, and 5,000 for the global economy,” said Sangma.
Tourism has become a vital economic driver for Meghalaya. Tourist footfall has grown from 12 lakh in 2018 to over 16 lakh in 2024 with projections to reach 21 lakh by 2028, he said.
The sector, he added, has already created over 60,000 direct and indirect jobs and another over 60,000 jobs are expected through planned investments of Rs 2,896 crore.
The expansion of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has played a crucial role in boosting livelihoods. The number of SHGs surged from 5,894 in 2018 to a projected 51,674 by 2025, impacting over two lakh individuals.
Sangma proudly showcased his Eri silk shirt, dyed with natural colours, and announced that Meghalaya’s Eri silk products will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office.
In the healthcare sector, Meghalaya has recorded a 50% reduction in maternal deaths and a 32% reduction in infant mortality between 2020 and 2024. The National Health Mission’s funding has also doubled since 2018.
In the power sector, Meghalaya successfully reduced Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses from 32% to 17%, ensuring an average power supply of 22.61 hours per day in 2023-24.
Meghalaya has transformed access to drinking water through the Jal Jeevan Mission. Over 5.33 lakh households now have tap water connections, a dramatic rise from just 4,550 in 2019.