Meghalaya Governor, Satya Pal Malik on Friday said that the National People’s Party (NPP)-led government is making concerted effort to improve the standard of living through better governance.
“The government is particularly focused on enhancing the service delivery in health and education sectors and making larger investments in physical infrastructure,” he said, addressing the legislators on the first day of the Budget session of the Meghalaya Assembly. He said the critical focus of the government is on improving rural livelihood and promoting enterprises through mission mode interventions. The Governor informed that at present there are 39 projects implemented in the State. Two of these projects are sponsored by the North Eastern Council and the rest are from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources.
The total cost of these projects implemented is Rs. 915 crore and they include building roads and bridges, establishing schools, water–related interventions, transport, protecting catchments areas and streamling some of the service sectors. Malik informed that the State government is also undertaking the “Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project”, funded by the World Bank at a cost of Rs. 768 crore. “The project will improve about 500 km of strategic road segments and stand alone bridges by using innovative, climate resilient and nature based solutions,” the Governor said.
Malik said the transport project would help the State harness its growth potential for high value tourism and agriculture and also enable the State to take advantage of its strategic location to emerge as a major connecting hub for trade with neighbouring countries.
Noting that no development is possible with peace and 2020 was overall peaceful, Malik informed that the overall law and order situation in the State was over all peaceful though there were a few agitations by NGOs on issues concerning implementation of Inner Line Permit and protests against Citizen Amendment Act, 2019.
However, the government has effectively dealt with these agitations and moreover the law and order on the inter-state along Meghalaya-Assam has remained by and large normal.
Malik said, the government is committed to effectively contain illegal migration, trans-border movement and activities of militants and anti-national elements along the international border with Bangladesh.
On developing the education sector, Malik said, several new school and college buildings are being built. Exiting educational infrastructure is being upgraded.
Touching on the health sector, the Governor praised the government for effectively contain the spread of COVID-19 and remained focused on strengthening the capacity of the health system and its delivery.
“In 2020 the State topped the list in reducing malaria cases by 59 percent in the country as compared to the previous year,” Malik said adding, the state has commenced vaccination against COVID-19.
Furthermore, the Governor informed that the World Bank funded “Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project” will improve of health care infrastructure in the State.
On Agriculture and Horticulture sector, Malik said, the 1917 iTEAMS provided IT enabled services to the farmers during the pandemic. Moreover, through an interest subvention of 2 percent on crop loan, 86000 framers stand to benefit.
Malik also mentioned about a “special Atma Nirbhar loan” availed the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited to bail itself out of the severe financial crisis.
The loan has been availed to pay off all liabilities of central generation and transmission companies.
“Several steps are being taken up for reducing the aggregate technical, commercial, transmission and distribution losses,” Malik said, without referring to the ongoing load shedding imposed by the State power corporation.
On Tourism, the Governor informed that said that it is an important sector for Meghalaya and it employs close to 50, 000 people and has a huge multiplier effect.
Informing that the government is prioritising tourism, Malik said that this sector employs close to 50,000 people and has a huge multiplier effect.
“An externally aided project, funded by the New Development Bank has been approved for the same,” he informed.
