Shillong, Aug 15: Meghalaya joined the rest of nation to celebrate the 78th Independence Day with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma hoisting the national flag at polo grounds in Shillong on Thursday morning.

Recalling the promises he made during the 50th anniversary celebration of Meghalaya’s statehood in 2022, CM Sangma said his dream is to create a ‘Meghalayan Decade’ within the ‘Meghalayan Age’, to which be referred to as ‘Meghalaya 2032 Vision’.

“I made a commitment that the year 2022 would mark the beginning of the Meghalayan Decade. The 10-year period of 2022 to 2032 would see Meghalaya emerge as one of India’s Top 10 states in GDP per capita income and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. My dream is to create a Meghalayan Decade within the Meghalayan Age,” he said in his address.

He announced the release of a vision document titled “Meghalaya at 60”, which he released on Wednesday and is now available for public domain. Sangma urged the citizens to actively participate and share their views and aspirations for Meghalaya in 2032, quoting Khasi poet U Soso Tham – “iu ngin leh namar ka Ri” meaning “What can you do for your country?”

An important blueprint or markers to realise the dream of ‘Meghalayan Decade’ or ‘Meghalaya 2032 Vision’ is ‘Mission 10’, which will put the State among the Top 10 states of the country. The plan includes 10 critical guarantees aimed at improving the lives of every citizen. These guarantees include: road connectivity, water supply, power supply, housing, affordable healthcare, quality education, social security, internet and telecom services, doorstep service delivery, and community infrastructure like playfields and community halls in even the remotest parts of the State.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the government, he informed that tap water connections have already expanded to 5.2 lakh households, an 80% coverage compared to just 4,500 connections five years ago. “The next step after providing water supply is ensuring sustainability of sources. We are working on a comprehensive program for protecting and rejuvenating hundreds of springs and surface water sources across the State,” he said.

Similarly, 2,500 kilometers of roads have been constructed, with new road projects worth Rs. 2,500 crore recently sanctioned to connect the 7000 villages in the state, some of which are in located in deep valleys and hilltops.

Healthcare is another priority, with maternal and infant mortality rates seeing significant reductions due to initiatives like the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme. Noting that the state has doubled the number of government health centers providing ultrasound facilities in the last two years, the CM appealed to all the health workers to ensure that every pregnant woman is provided at least one ultrasound scan by the 20th week of pregnancy to ensure a safe delivery.

“We have seen a 47% drop in maternal deaths and a 30% drop in infant mortality. This record drop is attributable to the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme. More than 30 new sub-centres have been constructed this year alone, with another 100 scheduled for completion. This will increase the total number of sub-centres from 460 to 610. Over 137 of these centres have adjoining residential units for healthcare staff to enable them to provide medical services round the clock,” he informed.

He also informed that the government is hopeful of opening the Shillong Medical College by the next academic year, with work on the Tura Medical College progressing steadily.

CM Sangma also highlighted the state’s focus on agriculture, tourism, skill development, industry, green economy, information technology, power, and urban infrastructure as key drivers of growth. These efforts are expected to increase Meghalaya’s GDP to $10 billion by 2028, with a projection of $16 billion by 2032. Additionally, the Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy aims to attract Rs. 10,000 crore in investments over the next five years, generating 5 lakh new jobs.

“These efforts have resulted in increased incomes for farmers, entrepreneurs, hospitality providers, and IT professionals. Numerous projects, including tech parks, business hubs, new urban centres, and luxury hotels are underway. The new Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy targets to attract INR 10,000 crores of investment over the next five years. All these initiatives will increase Meghalaya’s GDP to 10 billion dollars by 2028 and generate 5 lakh new employment opportunities for our youth. Further, by 2032, Meghalaya’s GDP is projected to touch 16 billion dollars,” he emphasised.

In addition, he shared another ambitious goal of the State, which is to have a ‘Viksit Meghalaya’ with a 100-billion-dollar economy by 2047, when Meghalaya celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Statehood. This will coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat, an ambitious plan for transforming India into a developed country by the 100th anniversary of India’s independence in 2047.

“On this important day, let us all commit to be more productive, enterprising, sensitive and empathetic. Let us also be optimistic and believe in our collective destiny. A destiny of being amongst the Top 10 states in the country by 2032, when Meghalaya turns 60,” he stressed.

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