Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today inaugurated the new Mawhati C&RD Block in Ri Bhoi district in the presence of cabinet minister Abu Taher Mondal, local MLA Charles Marngar and Umsning MLA Dr Celestine Lyngdoh.
Speaking at the inaugural function held in Umsohlait village, the chief minister said the block is a reflection of the commitment of the government to take administration closer to the people. “There were close to one lakh people and population under the Umsning C&RD and people had to had to travel more than 100 kilometres to reach a block office and that is why the government felt that this must change and therefore this commitment to ensure that we are able to provide the services the facilities closer to the people has led to this day,” he said.
He added that the Mawhati block would not only help the people of the area but would also benefit Umsning as a number of villages of Umsning fall under the Mawhati block.
Sangma said that the government is working hard in bringing in some administrative reforms. “It will take some time to happen, but we are working on it. We have seen that for many services that the government provides the people have to travel to the sub-division or the district headquarters. We are exploring the possibility of providing these services through the block offices,” he informed.
He informed that the sanction for the block office for Mawhati would be given at the earliest so that the block can function soon. Besides, he also announced developmental projects for the area, among them being the Umsning-Mawhati road that would be an important economic and administrative corridor.
Mondal said that the infrastructure will change the economic activities in the region and added that the C&RD Block will not only bring administration closer to the people but also bring livelihood opportunities to the people. “To achieve the 10 billion dollar economy people need to partner with the government and unless the economy of rural Meghalaya changes the economy of the state will not change,” he added.
He said that the objective of having blocks is to ensure government machinery reaches the grass roots and to provide hand holding and technical support to the various missions of the government.
Marngar in his speech said the Mawhati C&RD Block is a beacon of hope, symbol of progress and testament of a bright future bringing services to the youth, farmers, women and people of Mawhati.
M-Tabs to students of Class 11 were also distributed on the occasion.
