Shillong, Aug 15 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on Saturday that the state’s economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it the third fastest-growing state in India over the past five years, as he outlined his government’s development priorities on Independence Day.

Addressing the celebrations at Polo Grounds in Shillong, the Chief Minister added that the state government’s development model was centred on three principles — protecting the state’s land and natural resources, empowering its people and preserving Meghalaya’s distinct cultural identity.

Sangma, who became the Chief Minister in 2018, said that Meghalaya had made substantial progress in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and sports over the past eight years.

“Today, our economy has more than doubled since 2018, making Meghalaya the third fastest-growing state in India over the last five years,” he said, while acknowledging the Centre’s support for the state’s development.

On environmental conservation, Sangma added that Meghalaya continues to maintain 76 per cent forest cover and has expanded community-led conservation through the Green Meghalaya Plus programme, which incentivises local communities to protect natural forests.

He said that more than 60,000 springs had been mapped, while over 500 large water-harvesting structures had been created to strengthen water security.

The Chief Minister also said the state was moving towards sustainable mining through scientific mining practices and was developing a framework to support small miners.

Sangma added that the state government was focusing on high-value agriculture through programmes, including CM Farm Plus, the Organic Mission, Floriculture Mission and Ginger Mission.

More than 25,000 farmers across all 12 districts are being supported with high-value, long-gestation crops, he said.

He highlighted improvements in healthcare, claiming maternal mortality had declined by 56 per cent since 2020 and infant mortality by nearly 40 per cent.

“Under the Safe Motherhood Scheme, more than one lakh pregnant women have been transported to healthcare facilities, including more than 15,800 high-risk mothers,” the Chief Minister said.

In education, Meghalaya’s Performance Grading Index score rose from 448 to 525 in a year, taking the state out of the lowest category, CM Sangma added.

“The CM Skills Mission has trained more than 55,000 youths since 2022, while PRIME and CM-ELEVATE have supported entrepreneurship and employment generation.”

Sangma said that tourism had become a major livelihood driver, with annual tourist arrivals increasing from around 10 lakh in 2018 to nearly 18 lakh.

With Meghalaya preparing to host the 39th National Games, the Chief Minister said that more than 20,000 grassroots sports projects had been completed or were underway, while the STAR programme had supported more than 2,400 athletes.

Urging youths to stay away from drugs, CM Sangma added that sports, music and skill development could provide young people with purpose and opportunity.

He also highlighted the CM Connect initiative, saying more than one lakh citizens had been reached through its grievance-redressal mechanisms since 2024.

On cultural preservation, CM Sangma reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting Khasi and Garo languages and seeking their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.

He also recalled the 2022 Assam-Meghalaya agreement that resolved boundary differences in six of the 12 disputed areas.

With Meghalaya set to turn 55 and host the National Games, CM Sangma urged people to remain optimistic and become active partners in the state’s development.

–IANS

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