On his maiden visit to Shillong, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, accompanied by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, visited the IT Park at Mawdiangdiang. During the occasion, the Vice President shared his insights on the developmental aspirations of Meghalaya.
In his address, Vice President Dhankhar emphasized that achieving the status of a developed state requires a strategic and well-rounded approach. He remarked, “Developed state status is a serious business, and GDP growth alone is not an indicator of it. Developed status has certain elements, and they take time. Meghalaya, under the leadership of Conrad K. Sangma with the 10 Guarantees, is aimed at making Meghalaya a developed state.”
He further elaborated that while it is essential to aspire to be a developed state, it is equally important to do so with a rational approach. “We must consider the availability of resources and the capacity of human resources while aspiring to be a developed state,” he added.
The Vice President also acknowledged the importance of organic growth in infrastructure, noting that some aspects, such as roads and connectivity, must evolve naturally. However, he underscored the need for a “futuristic outlook” in the creation of these infrastructures. Expressing his satisfaction with the state’s focus, he said, “While aspiring to be a developed state, the focus on fundamentals like Education, Health, Technology, Skill Development, Farming, Sports, and Music is commendable.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma presented a detailed roadmap to the Vice President, outlining the state’s plans for growth and development. The Chief Minister emphasized that Meghalaya is on a mission to accelerate progress, particularly aiming for a “Developed Meghalaya by 2023” as the state celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Chief Minister Sangma highlighted the state’s development strategy, which he termed the “Meghalaya Model of Development,” built on four pillars: creating aspirations, collaborating with communities and stakeholders, capacity building, and forging partnerships. Acknowledging the state’s challenges, he noted, “With 7,000 villages, many of which are geographically remote, rural, and hilly, we have identified the concerns and rolled out programs to benefit youth, women, and farmers. We are moving forward to propel the economic agenda of the state.”
Sangma also pointed out the significant strides Meghalaya has made in recent years. He shared that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth had been lagging prior to 2020-21 but post-2021-22, the state experienced a 15 percent growth. This progress, he said, was fueled by increased investments in social sectors, higher own tax collections, absorption of central taxes, and financial assistance from the 15th Finance Commission, along with investments through Externally Aided Projects (EAPs).
The Chief Minister further informed that the state budget had expanded from approximately ₹12,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore, and capital expenditure had grown by 2.75 times. He highlighted the government’s initiatives in promoting value addition in the agriculture sector, strengthening value chains and marketing, and prioritizing areas such as sports, music, education, and healthcare.