Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Meghalaya’s economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it the third fastestgrowing state in India over the past five years. This was revealed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma 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.
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.
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 scienti¿c 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 highvalue, 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. 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.
