Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has informed that a “taskforce” has been formed to look into the overall progress of the Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Meghalaya.
Sangma informed that the taskforce has been formed since there was a big concern over the fact that the overall progress of the work in these schools is not at the pace at which the government wanted it to be.
Sangma will head the taskforce himself, with the Education Minister and officials of the Education Department, from Wapcos, which is one of the implementing agencies, and the Manipur Industrial Development Corporation and officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as members.
“The objective of this taskforce will be to ensure that all the different issues concerning land and other aspects, which are leading to the slowdown of the overall implementation of this scheme will be taken up by this task force,” Sangma informed reporters.
The Chief Minister also informed that during his visit to New Delhi recently, the Tribal Affairs Minister told him that the ministry has decided to take up a large number of tribal villages for overall development purposes in different tribal states of the country.
Sangma said that the ministry has identified 836 villages in Meghalaya which will now be taken up in the next five years for overall development and gap funding in whatever areas that are required.
“The objective being, to make these villages self-sufficient in one way, make these villages have facilities that they require,” he informed.
The Chief Minister also said that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs would fund these villages and it will be done in a five-year plan.
Sangma also informed that during his visit to Delhi, the state government submitted additional projects for CRF (Central Road Fund) and at the same time also asked for additional funds to take up more projects on National Highways.
The Chief Minister said that on both the fronts they got a positive response from the central government.
The state government also had a meeting with the Jal Shakti Minister on projects regarding Jal Jeevan Mission, as well as minor irrigation projects. Sangma also took up the issue of pending dues that are owed to Meghalaya, which amount to around Rs 70-80 crore.
“At the same time, we have also asked for additional 70 projects to be taken up under the minor irrigation and the government of India is positively considering those projects,” he added.
