Union Minister of State for External Affairs of India Pabitra Margherita has said that the share of grants-in-aid from the Centre to Meghalaya has increased.
According to Margherita, as per 2014 data grants-in-aid from the central government to Meghalaya amounted to Rs 19,700 crore, which is an increase of 105.5 per cent, totaling Rs 40,452 crore.
Speaking to reporters on the key highlights of the Union Budget for 2025-26 here today, he said over the past decade the tax revenue for Meghalaya which was Rs 7,273 crore has increased to Rs 48,883 crore.
Stating that the budget reaffirms the government’s commitment to the growth and prosperity of every region in India, including northeast, the minister said to accelerate the momentum of growth the NDA government has implemented numerous schemes, including those under the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
Besides road projects and tourism hubs that are being developed in Meghalaya the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will benefit from the Union Budget, he added. He also highlighted provisions made for uplifting urban workers and women empowerment.
Margherita said Meghalaya has made contributions across various sectors, including culture, sericulture, horticulture, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, health, and education and reaffirmed that the centre is committed to making the state prosperous.
“We have many schemes beyond DoNER and NEC. In all of the central government’s schemes and projects, Meghalaya has a strong share. Under the PM Divine scheme, a four-lane route in New Shillong, a skywalk, a tourist hub, and an IT park at Tura have been approved. Since April 2014, 540 km of National Highways have been constructed in Meghalaya,” he said.
Additionally, under the Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, seven road and bridge projects worth Rs 459 crore, along with 116 projects unrelated to road infrastructure worth over Rs 1,737 crore, have been approved. Meghalaya has received Rs 1,300 crore in 2024-25 under special assistance to states for capital investment, he added.
