Shillong, Oct 13: The Meghalaya cabinet today approved the Meghalaya School Education School Complex Rules 2026 to ease students’ transition between different levels of schooling by linking lower and upper primary schools with nearby secondary and higher secondary institutions.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the initiative aims to reduce admission-related difficulties faced by students who often have to complete fresh admission formalities when moving from one school level to another.
There is a big gap between the number of lower level schools and those offering higher levels of education, with Meghalaya having 9,244 lower primary schools, 2,396 upper primary schools, 1,755 secondary schools and 532 higher secondary schools.
Sangma said the proposed system would create nodal schools linked to surrounding institutions, facilitating students’ transition from Class 5 to 6, Class 8 to 9 and other levels without requiring repeated paperwork, including transfer certificates.
He clarified that participation would be voluntary and would involve schools willing to work with the government. The arrangement would not interfere with the functioning or decision-making of participating institutions.
Mawmluh write-off
The cabinet also approved the write-off of Rs 24.43 crore in pending government dues owed by Mawmluh Cherra Cement Ltd (MCCL), a move aimed at facilitating the closure and winding up of the state-owned cement company.
Sangma said the dues comprised Rs 8.9 crore in sales tax payable to the state taxation department and Rs 15.53 crore in royalty owed to the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR).
He said the government had already fulfilled its commitments towards MCCL employees, including payment of their dues, but the company could not be formally wound up until its outstanding liabilities were cleared.
As the company is state-owned and the debts are owed to the government, it was simpler to simply write off the amount instead of transferring it to MCCL and then back again to the government, Sangma said, adding that the government would not suffer any additional financial impact from the move.
The decision is expected to facilitate the completion of the winding-up process, following the earlier decision to shut down MCCL.
Easier MSME licences
An ordinance was also approved to simplify the process of obtaining licences, clearances and no-objection certificates (NOCs) for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as part of the state government’s efforts to improve ease of doing business.
The ordinance will allow eligible enterprises to apply for multiple clearances through a smoother process without having to wait for one approval before initiating the application for another.
The CM said the measure was intended to reduce procedural delays and make it easier for businesses to complete registration and other regulatory formalities.
The facilitation measures will initially apply only to enterprises in the white category under the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board’s classification, which do not require Consent to Establish (CTE) or Consent to Operate (CTO).
The move is in line with the Centre’s ease of doing business guidelines, Sangma said, adding that Meghalaya had already taken several steps to remove regulatory hurdles and simplify business-related procedures.
Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved the regularisation of another 26 employees appointed on an ad hoc basis against sanctioned posts. Over the past few years the government has regularised more than 3,000 employees.
In another decision, the cabinet approved the list of government holidays for 2027, which will remain the same as the 2026 list, the chief minister said.
