By H.H. Mohrmen
The Conrad Sangma-led MDA 2.0 government has actively pursued innovative development strategies to ensure inclusive growth and reach every citizen in Meghalaya. Contrary to criticism that it is inactive, the government has launched several flagship programs addressing livelihoods, entrepreneurship, skill development, and tourism. Last year the Chief Minister also claimed that the state will achieve its goal of becoming a $ 10 billion economy by 2027. It remains to be seen if these initiatives bear fruits; impact the people and help the state reach its $10 billion dollar economy.
FOCUS & FOCUS+
One of the government’s flagship programs is FOCUS which means Farmers’ Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing Systems. It aims to enhance farmers’ livelihoods by organizing them into producer groups and providing support across the value chain. I can understand the need to form the producers into the group because we have experience with the big Farmers’ Producers Organisation promoted by NABARD which is not working in the hills. When the FOCUS project was introduced I could easily connect and I also believe it will complement the SHG program promoted by the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Mission.
In the FOCUS project, the PGs were provided with funding, and each member received an initial mobilization fund of ₹5,000. Since its launch in March 2021, FOCUS has benefitted 2.45 lakh farmers. Through its extension, FOCUS+, registered households receive an additional ₹5,000 through direct cash transfer. Households obtain a FOCUS+ card as an identification document, and membership in producer groups is mandatory to avail of the benefits. As of now, there are 4,409 Producer Groups (PGs) with 54,881 registered producers.
Even where some outcomes have not fully materialized, FOCUS has given the government critical data on major livelihood activities across blocks, enabling better planning for future interventions. For example, through FOCUS the government has been able to identify the three major produce in every block of the state.
IVCS: Integrated Village Cooperative Societies
Another very innovative project implemented by the government is the Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS). To overcome poor financial inclusion in rural areas, were introduced. These locally managed institutions provide thrift, credit, and financial services and function as intermediaries for government schemes, input supply, product aggregation, storage, and market linkages.
IVCS operates on a membership model, requiring a minimum of 15 members to start, though typically 300 or more members strengthen operations. Members purchase shares at rates fixed by the society. Managed by elected male and female committee members, IVCS ensures financial services reach underserved rural populations while offering non-financial services as per local needs.
PRIME: Promoting Entrepreneurship
Recognizing the critical role of private sector-led growth, Meghalaya launched the Meghalaya Startup Policy in 2018, aiming to make the state a leading Startup Hub by 2023. To operationalize this vision, the PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) program was established with support from IIM Kolkata.
PRIME addresses limitations in earlier entrepreneurship programs that focused on production but lacked strong market orientation, technology dissemination, and integrated support structures. Meghalaya faces systemic challenges such as weak credit access due to limited banking penetration, complex land tenure systems, and high collateral demands.
PRIME seeks to integrate four essential components under one roof to help entrepreneurs access credit and technology, linking them to the market, and also help them in skill development.
PRIME HUBs serve as one-stop shops across the state, providing end-to-end support to entrepreneurs in partnership with various departments. Through PRIME, entrepreneurs receive systematic facilitation to help them start and sustain their businesses in Meghalaya’s unique economic context.
Meghalaya Skill Development Mission
A skilled workforce is fundamental for economic growth. Meghalaya’s youth — 27% of the population falls in the 15–29 age group — face high levels of underemployment and unemployment, even among graduates. A significant mismatch exists between market needs and available skills, compounded by limited private investments and high dependence on public-sector employment.
The Meghalaya Skill Development Mission (MSDM) addresses these challenges by conducting a Skill Gap Analysis to identify gaps across sectors and design demand-driven training programs. It integrates skills development with credit and market access to ensure employability. It offers multi-skill training to make youth employable across diverse sectors. The mission is to facilitate self-employment opportunities through skill-building and credit linkage.
With regard to trainers it has engaged mostly local Training Providers and in the process evolved training standards for trainers, curricula, assessment, and post-placement support. It not only insisted on third-party assessment but the mission has also established robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for continuous improvement.
Unlike traditional long-term training programs, Meghalaya’s strategy emphasizes short-term, market-aligned training (30-45 days) that quickly prepares trainees for available jobs. Like in our case the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) we offer training on Integrated Farming at the village level because we believe in taking the training to the doorstep of the trainees.
Sectored Mission
The Jackfruit Mission, Lakadong, and Piggery Mission are unique sectoral initiatives to develop the different products of the region. Jackfruit’s mission is an effort to promote Jackfruit as a viable commercial crop. The program promotes processing, value addition, and marketing of jackfruit products, thus offering an alternative livelihood source to farmers while tapping into Meghalaya’s natural produce. Similarly, the Lakadong Mission was initiated to promote the high curcumin content and endemic to the state Lakadong turmeric. While some missions, such as the Piggery Mission, have faced challenges — notably feed supply, vaccinations, and lack of insurance, the outbreak of swine flu has also had a toll on the mission.
Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP)
Music has always been integral to Meghalaya’s cultural identity. To harness this potential for employment, tourism, and cultural promotion, the government launched the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP). When I think of MGMP the two cousins from our church come to my mind, they are both musicians in their own right, and one works with the NGO that I manage. My staff is earning additional income from playing in some of the gigs and his cousin is the organizer of the show. Hence the project has helped both of them earn additional income.
MGMP creates performance platforms for emerging musicians like street performance platforms, it also organizes performances at café like Music Café Platforms. It also provides monthly special curated music events for musicians and artists.
These platforms not only offer visibility to local talents but also create jobs for artists, technicians, and event organizers while enriching the tourist experience in the state. The Tourism Department has complemented this effort by inviting renowned national and international artists while ensuring grassroots participation remains central.
Promoting Tourism
Tourism remains a key sector for Meghalaya’s growth. The government offers substantial incentives to promote homestays and small resorts. Homestays and Resorts provide entrepreneurs access to a 30% capital subsidy under PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme) and an additional ₹3 lakh support from the Tourism Department. These schemes aim to promote eco-friendly, community-based tourism that benefits local communities directly. Recently in order to promote the state, the government introduced the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 and hopefully this will create more publicity for the state.
Meghalayan Age Limited
The state also established Meghalayan Age Limited, a government-owned enterprise that promotes branding and marketing of Meghalaya’s unique heritage and products, including agro-produce, crafts, and cultural assets. The Meghalayan Age store in Delhi is one good example of how brands from the state find a place in the national capital.
State Livelihood Mission (SLM)
The state has also embarked on promoting organizing and natural farming practices. Through the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM), Meghalaya, farmers in the state are supported to go into organic farming via natural farming. This effort in some ways also aligns with the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society supported by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), in promoting natural farming in the state.
Perhaps it is not out of place to mention that the work undertaken by MSRLS in organizing women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), facilitating credit access, capacity building, and livelihood enhancement activities across rural areas is heartwarming. As a person who has been involved in rural and community development in the state for more than three decades, MSRLS’s work is nothing short of a movement that has greatly empowered women in rural areas.
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
Recognizing the value of its rich natural ecosystems, Meghalaya has also begun exploring Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) models. Under PES, communities and landowners receive financial incentives for conserving forests, water sources, and biodiversity, promoting sustainable development while protecting the environment.
Conclusion: The MDA 2.0 government’s development agenda combines multiple dimensions: agriculture, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, skill development, tourism, culture, environment, and community-based institutions. While certain programs face operational challenges, the government’s integrated approach reflects a serious commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth and long-term development of Meghalaya. Its innovative interventions attempt to balance immediate livelihood concerns with structural reforms that build resilient systems for the future.