By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 26: The second Cabinet Retreat of the Meghalaya Government set its focus on finalising Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Mission 10, strengthening data-driven governance through DC CONNECT, and expanding digital delivery of services via the Meghalaya One portal.
Ministers and senior officials also resolved to step up investments in youth employment, education, and sports infrastructure, alongside progress on health and grievance redressal systems.
Chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the retreat reviewed the Action Taken Report of the first Cabinet Retreat held at Sohra in January.
Out of 107 action plans, 27 have been completed, 72 remain in progress, and the remaining will be reviewed within the next two to three months.
The Planning Department highlighted that the Meghalaya One portal now has more than 7,000 registered users and includes a live dashboard for tracking government tasks assigned to nodal officers. Officials said this places Meghalaya among the most digitally advanced states in the country.
The government confirmed that Shillong Medical College is on track to begin academic (Contd on P-7)
Cabinet retreat charts roadmap…
(Contd from P-1) sessions in October 2025, subject to National Medical Commission (NMC) approval.
The Chief Minister also directed officers to strengthen CM CONNECT, which integrates grievance redressal with the Meghalaya One portal and is currently active in seven blocks, supported by Village Data Volunteers (VDVs) and a dedicated helpline, 1971.
Employment generation and youth development were a central part of the deliberations, with Sangma stressing the need to scale up programmes such as CM Elevate and PRIME.
On education, he said that play-based pedagogy should be introduced in Classes 1 and 2, similar to Anganwadi centres, and called for urgent investment in sports and educational infrastructure to serve the needs of the next generation.
“The development of infrastructure for youth in sports, education, and employment is important as it will cater to the youth who will grow up in the next 10 years, and they will require these services,” he noted.
As part of the proceedings, the Human Development Leadership Programme (HDLP) Joint Field Visit Guide was launched. The Social Welfare Department explained that under this initiative, block teams from the Health, Social Welfare, Education, and Community & Rural Development departments undertake weekly joint visits to improve outreach.
The technical sessions were divided into thematic areas including nutrition and early childhood development, affordable healthcare reforms, SDG convergence strategies, financial planning, personnel reforms, welfare delivery, rural connectivity, digital infrastructure, and housing for all.
Chief Secretary Donald Philips Wahlang described the retreat as the “only forum in the country” where the Chief Minister, Ministers, senior officials, and Block Development Officers — “the eyes and ears of the government” — sit together. He urged that the practice be continued frequently.
The Chief Minister reiterated that Meghalaya might be the only state holding such a retreat. “We’re always in meetings, too busy to share inputs,” Sangma told the gathering. “That’s when I realized we need to take it deeper, meeting like this with all of you.”
Cabinet Ministers present included Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, AT Mondal, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh, AL Hek, Shakliar Warjri, Comingone Ymbon, and Kyrmen Shylla.
The retreat closed with a strong message of synergy, inclusivity, and action-oriented planning to ensure that policies translate into outcomes for citizens at the grassroots.