Guwahati, Nov 20: Meghalaya has moved to fast-track its next phase of development, with a high-level strategy meeting on Wednesday outlining an ambitious roadmap to boost connectivity, strengthen rural livelihoods, and scale human-capital programmes across the state.
Chaired by Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member of NITI Aayog, the review meeting on November 19 brought together top officials to assess progress and chart new interventions aimed at transforming some of India’s most remote and underserved regions.
At the core of the discussions was digital and telecom connectivity, with officials emphasising the urgent need to reach far-flung villages still cut off from reliable networks. Bridging this gap, they said, is essential for delivering services, expanding financial inclusion, and unlocking opportunities in education, telemedicine, and e-governance.
The meeting also laid strong focus on women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and the state’s growing reputation for market-linked value chains in sectors such as spices, beekeeping, and agro-processing. Plans to expand skilling programmes aligned to local livelihoods—including tourism, agri-enterprise development, and emerging service-sector roles—were highlighted as key to creating future-ready rural economies.
Officials also discussed major agro-industrial initiatives, including plans for one of the world’s remotest food-processing centres, a move aimed at transforming production landscapes in high-altitude and hard-to-access zones.
Beyond economic growth, the meeting underscored the state’s pioneering leadership in human development. The Early Childhood Development (ECD) model—now recognised nationally—as well as the Meghalaya Programme for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER) were described as foundational investments that will shape healthier, more resilient communities over the next decade.
Senior officials present included Dr. Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare; Community and Rural Development); Dr. Vijay Kumar D , Commissioner and Secretary (Finance; Planning); Vijay Kumar Mantri, Commissioner and Secretary (Education); and Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary (Food Civil Supplies; Social Welfare; IT & Communication).
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