Williamnagar, May 28: As part of Meghalaya government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroot governance and bring administration closer to the people, it has steadily been modernizing governance infrastructure and working conditions, especially in far-flung areas where basic facilities have long been neglected. As part of this effort, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated two newly upgraded Block Integrated Development Complexes in East Garo Hills district — one at Songsak and another at Dambo Rongjeng.
The upgraded complexes are part of a larger initiative under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, which aims to revamp dilapidated government infrastructure and improve public service delivery. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 120 crore under the scheme for these infrastructural upgrades.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Songsak C&RD Block complex, Chief Minister Sangma mentioned that when the MDA government took office in 2018, most C&RD blocks were functioning under extremely poor conditions. Many Block Development Officers (BDOs) did not even have proper office spaces.
“Recognizing the critical role of block-level offices in implementing rural development initiatives, we launched a comprehensive plan to upgrade the infrastructure of all C&RD blocks. We began with six blocks, and today, this initiative is being scaled up to all 56 blocks across Meghalaya,” he said.
Highlighting the transformative role of the SASCI scheme, he said, “This is one positive story of the SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) scheme that has enabled us to upgrade our Block Offices, many of which were left in a dilapidated condition for decades.”
Meghalaya currently has 56 Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks, many of which are now seeing long-overdue renovations.
Recently, the Chief Minister announced sanctioning of buildings for 10 new C&RD blocks.
Later, at the Dambo Rongjeng C&RD Block, the Chief Minister emphasized the broader vision behind the state’s infrastructure overhaul. “The objective is to create a more efficient, motivating work environment that empowers our teams at the grassroots level to deliver effective governance and quality public service,” he stated.
He also announced plans to develop staff quarters in various locations across the state to provide housing and support for government employees serving in rural and remote areas.
The Chief Minister also urged citizens to enroll for Aadhaar, stressing its importance for the implementation of various central government schemes. “Meghalaya continues to have one of the lowest Aadhaar enrollment rates in the country. To ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the delivery of government schemes, Aadhaar linkage has been made mandatory. We urge all citizens to come forward and complete their enrolment,” he said.
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