Editor,
It was an unusual scene shortly after 3:00 PM on May 30 at Smit market, the seat of culture, tradition, and administration of Hima Khyrim. There was a buzz as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma alighted from his vehicle and spontaneously connected with the citizens in what his social media handle termed “Live with Conrad.” Indeed, it was a lively connection. It was a relief to witness no security cordons, no chasing away of citizens, no barricades stopping people from approaching a Chief Minister who is a Z Plus Category protectee. Mainland citizens would have felt a pang of envy had they seen a Chief Minister with no airs and no traffic regulations imposed.
In no time, Sangma was inside a tea stall interacting with the women who run it. After exchanging greetings, the Chief Minister sat down to Putharo (soft rice flatbread), Doh Syiar (chicken curry), and Sha Saw (red tea). Tea stalls are places where people gather to chit-chat, voice opinions, exchange ideas, and work on solutions. The Chief Minister did just that, like any ordinary resident in any traditional market in the hills.
It was refreshing to watch from the sidelines as citizens aired their concerns without fear and the Chief Minister gave them a patient hearing. Some women nearby remarked that Sangma looks very young. When the head of government steps out of his office to interact with citizens, he gets a fair idea of whether policies and programmes are actually working on the ground. And when citizens get the opportunity to interact, they get to know their leader better. Proximity does that. It humanises both sides of the equation.
At the tea stall, Sangma encouraged visitors to explore and support local businesses, carrying a larger message about promoting local tourism, supporting local entrepreneurs, and appreciating the state’s natural and cultural assets. Smit is one of the crucial places in Khasi Hills. It is a transit point, proximate to the Shillong-Jowai highway, with tourist spots scattered within and beyond it. Many residents of Meghalaya are yet to explore the hundreds of destinations within the state’s own boundaries.
Meghalaya is a state with a tourism economy that is as dependent on word of mouth as it is on infrastructure. The waterfalls, the living root bridges and the rolling highlands draw visitors. But what keeps them talking, what turns a trip into a story worth telling is often something more intangible. The warmth of a local interaction, the taste of something eaten at a roadside stall, the sense of being welcomed into a place rather than merely processed through it.
Governance is not just about lectures from podiums, signing files, or issuing orders. Essentially it is about connecting with those at the grassroots. A disconnect from citizens renders governance hollow. We have spent decades debating policy from the top down, discussing budget allocations, infrastructure timelines, and development indices. These conversations matter and must continue but there must be measurable outcomes.
What is missing in modern governance is the habit of showing up not to be seen, but to understand. The gap between those in power and those they serve is not bridged by legislation alone but through repeated and genuine contact through a Chief Minister who sits at the same tea stall as a market vendor and asks how business has been. These are not grand gestures or policy announcements. They are the raw material of trust, and trust in a democracy is the only currency that compounds over time.
That said, Meghalaya faces real and pressing challenges in connectivity, employment, healthcare access, and the economics of its rural communities. A cup of tea at Smit does not build a road or fund a school. The work of governance is slow, technical, and often unglamorous, and it must be judged on outcomes as much as on intent. The way a leader moves through the world, the habits they model, the interactions they choose, and the moments they decide are worth their time set a tone that eventually filters through institutions. Only a government that genuinely listens and values the grassroots not as a talking point but as a real site of understanding, is more likely to make decisions that reflect the actual texture of people’s lives. The visit to Smit, whatever its limitations, was evidence of that intent.
Sangma later proceeded to RC Homestay, where he encountered another dimension of Meghalaya’s growth story. Tourism is often measured in visitor volumes, revenue figures, and infrastructure investments. But for many families in Meghalaya, it has become something far more personal: a reliable source of income. At R.C. Homestay, the proprietor explained how government assistance had helped develop and sustain the property. Tourism had expanded, bringing new opportunities, visitors, and confidence. Listening to these accounts, Sangma emphasised that homestays are more than accommodation; they are among the most effective tools for local communities to directly benefit from the state’s tourism expansion.
This reflects a larger vision shaping Meghalaya’s tourism strategy. Unlike approaches that concentrate economic rewards in a few large establishments, community-based tourism distributes opportunity across households and local enterprises. A family that welcomes tourists earns directly. Local guides find work. Small eateries gain customers. Transport operators benefit. This Tourism model translates into livelihoods rather than footfall. The numbers suggest the approach is gaining ground. Meghalaya currently has around 900 active homestays, with a further 2,100 pending approval. If realised, the state could soon have a network of roughly 3,000 homestays spread across its districts.
The “Live with Conrad” session itself gave voice to many of the aspirations and concerns of Meghalaya’s young people. Questions ranged across tourism careers, business opportunities, environmental sustainability, and the approaching National Games. On the tension between development and conservation, Sangma was clear: economic growth cannot come at the expense of Meghalaya’s environment or its communities, and many government initiatives are designed to ensure local involvement in decision-making.
On employment, the Chief Minister pointed to Skills Meghalaya, under which nearly 30,000 youth have already received training across various sectors, including 2,000 in tourism. The government aims to train 1.2 lakh youth in the coming years, opening pathways in tourism, entrepreneurship, healthcare, transportation, and other growing industries. Regarding the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host in 2027. Sangma described the event as more than a sporting tournament, highlighting its potential to generate opportunities across tourism, hospitality, culture, and local business, with the state’s growing homestay network expected to meet a significant share of accommodation demand.
The first edition of “Live with Conrad” showed something simple but increasingly rare in public life: direct, unmediated engagement. Whether over tea in a market, in conversation with a local entrepreneur, or during a live exchange with citizens, what is consistent is that meaningful governance begins with listening, and listening begins with showing up.
Yours etc.,
Bawan Lyngdoh,
Via email
