Shillong, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said the state’s economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it the third fastest-growing state in India over the past five years, as he outlined his government’s development priorities on Independence Day.
Addressing the state-level celebrations at Polo Grounds in Shillong, Sangma said the government’s development strategy was based on protecting land and natural resources, empowering citizens and preserving Meghalaya’s distinctive cultural identity.
Sangma, who became Chief Minister in 2018, said the state had made significant progress in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and sports over the past eight years, while acknowledging the Centre’s support.
On environmental conservation, he said Meghalaya continues to maintain 76 per cent forest cover and has strengthened community-led conservation through the Green Meghalaya Plus programme, which provides incentives to local communities for protecting natural forests.
More than 60,000 springs have been mapped and over 500 large water-harvesting structures created to improve water security, he said. The government is also promoting scientific and sustainable mining practices and working on a framework to support small miners.
In agriculture, Sangma highlighted the CM Farm Plus, Organic Mission, Floriculture Mission and Ginger Mission, saying more than 25,000 farmers across all 12 districts are being supported in cultivating high-value, long-gestation crops.
He said healthcare indicators had also improved, with maternal mortality declining by 56 per cent since 2020 and infant mortality by nearly 40 per cent. Under the Safe Motherhood Scheme, more than one lakh pregnant women have been transported to healthcare facilities, including over 15,800 high-risk mothers.
In education, Meghalaya’s Performance Grading Index score rose from 448 to 525 in one year, taking the state out of the lowest category, Sangma said. The CM Skills Mission has trained more than 55,000 youths since 2022, while PRIME and CM-ELEVATE have supported entrepreneurship and employment generation.
Tourism has emerged as a major source of livelihoods, with annual tourist arrivals rising from around 10 lakh in 2018 to nearly 18 lakh, he said.
With Meghalaya preparing to host the 39th National Games, Sangma said more than 20,000 grassroots sports projects had been completed or were underway and the STAR programme had supported over 2,400 athletes. He urged young people to stay away from drugs and said sports, music and skill development could provide them with opportunities and purpose.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the CM Connect initiative, saying its grievance-redressal mechanisms had reached more than one lakh citizens since 2024.
On cultural preservation, Sangma reiterated the government’s efforts to promote the Khasi and Garo languages and seek their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He also recalled the 2022 Assam-Meghalaya agreement, under which boundary differences in six of the 12 disputed areas were resolved.
As Meghalaya approaches its 55th year and prepares to host the National Games, Sangma called on citizens to remain optimistic and actively participate in the state’s development.
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma says the state economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it India’s third fastest-growing state.
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