Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 187/15

CM ATTENDS 64TH NEC PLENARY MEETING IN NEW DELHI

Shillong, April 12, 2015: The 64th Plenary Meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) was held at Scope Auditorium, New Delhi on the 9th and 10th April, 2014 which was attended by Union Minister of State, DoNER & Chairman, NEC, Dr Jitendra Singh, Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Dr Mukul M Sangma besides the Governors and Chief Ministers of North East region.

Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma placed before the house some of the pressing needs of the state which require funds and proposed that the Ministry of DoNER take the lead in advocating for a separate and distinct corpus for NEC for taking up interventions for the major projects of regional nature.

While welcoming the initiatives taken by the NEC to review and consolidate its policy guidelines paving the way for faster releases and timely intervention of sanctioned schemes and projects, he stated that it is important that resources keep pace with the ambitions. He said that the allocation since 2012-2013 has been static at Rs 770.00 crore reflecting a decline in real terms and in 2014-15, a unilateral budget cut of Rs 191.00 crore has reduced the plan kitty to Rs 579.00 crore which has caused a serious setback and delayed implementation of important projects prioritized during 2014-15.

Further he said that the change of funding pattern made by the Government of India from this financial year has imposed an additional burden on the state with limited resources. The NEC as a regional planner should be backed by adequate resources so that issues that have inter-state and regional ramifications can be addressed adequately he added. Expressing concern over the present trend in the growth rate he said that the gap will become wider and the region will never be able to catch up with the rest of the country.

The Chief Minister proposed to resolve to enhance the NEC’s annual plan for 2015-2016 to the tune of Rs 1500.00 crore to meet the requirements for state specific projects. He also suggested that NEC come up with a supplementary budget, indicated well in advance, once a decision in this regard is made by the Ministry of Finance.

Highlighting the unique problem of student migration to the metros in pursuance of professional courses and academic opportunities, he said that the region still needs more institutes of higher learning in technical and professional education and urged NEC to support for the setting up of new institutes of higher education and professional courses. Citing the example of RIMS at Imphal that had been set up with NEC support he said that the house seriously consider recreating such a funding mechanism for new regional institutions in Agriculture, Health, Technology and other professional courses which would provide the skill and professional workforce so as to help attract investment besides mitigating the problem of migration.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to strengthen the trade corridor with the neighboring countries of North East and said that the potential of North East must be understood from the geo-political perspective. He also placed before the house support for new townships, up gradation of interstate roads, new railway network along the southern slope of Meghalaya connecting Jogighopa and Badarpur, setting up of Regional Technology Park, provision of telephone connectivity in rural areas, development of infrastructure for tourist circuits and preservation of Biodiversity and expressed hope that the state government will continue to have a dialogue facilitated by NEC on other issues concerning the state of Meghalaya in particular and the North Eastern Region in general.

Press Release No. 188/15

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHES A BOOK ON MEGHALAYA

Shillong, April 12, 2015: Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Dr Mukul M Sangma launched the book titled ‘Meghalaya on the Paths to Prosperity’ authored by Prof Bibek Debroy at an impressive function held at India Habitat Centre, Delhi on April 10, 2015.

Speaking at the function, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma said that the humble transformative efforts of the government have been captured in the form of storytelling to disseminate information to the people. He informed the gathering at the launch that biggest challenge of any policy maker is to deal with the expectations of the new generation in providing employment opportunities and livelihood for the youth. Highlighting the aspects and objectives of the flagship program of the state government, Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Program (IBDLP) which forms the core of the book, the Chief Minister said that IBDLP is designed to promote sustainable livelihood through partnership and to promote entrepreneurship. He further mentioned that the book is in itself is a motivation for all to deliver the best to the state of Meghalaya.

It may be mentioned that the book is authored by Prof Bibek Debroy who was born in Shillong and spent the first ten years of his life in Shillong. Giving a brief synopsis of the book Prof Debroy said that the book is the story of entrepreneurship in Meghalaya giving a flavor of the state while triggering an interest in the minds of the reader.

The book is about Meghalaya’s governance and human development and about the role of the government, institutions and private enterprise in embarking on those paths to prosperity.

Also present at the book launch were Chief Secretary, PBO Warjri, Dr Phrang Roy, Retd IAS and Slow Food activist, Principal Secretary, Planning, P Jain and R M Mishra, IAS, CEO, IBDLP.