Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today launched the CM-Connect “Public Forum” at Adokgre in North Garo Hills with an aim to strengthen grassroots democracy and ensure citizen participation in governance.
The forum is an innovative initiative of the government to reach out to the people at the grassroots level, listen to their concerns, and provide immediate relief and solutions. The program is designed to bridge the gap between the government and the citizens, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and their grievances are addressed, a press release said.
During the launch, the Chief Minister heard the complaints and concerns of the people, which ranged from ongoing construction of bridges and roads to delays in completion of works, disbursement of loan components by banks, and slow progress of ongoing works.
Officers from the state, district, and block levels clarified and provided factual information on the issues raised.
In response to a complaint about the delayed construction of a new building for the Adokgre C&RD block, the Chief Minister stated that the foundation stone for the project could not take off due to the pending finalisation of the land acquisition process. He directed the administration to expedite the land acquisition process and finalise the land by July.
During the public forum, a query was raised regarding the construction of a bridge on the Adokgre-Mangsang stretch, which connects North Garo Hills to East Garo Hills. The Chief Minister directed the concerned officer to address the public’s concern, which was responded by the PWD Engineer. The Chief Minister assured the public that he would take up the matter on a priority basis to resolve the issue urgently.
The public also submitted a petition to the Chief Minister, requesting improvements and upgradation of the Chenanggre Stadium in Adokgre, including the construction of a multi-facility center.
Speaking on the occasion, Sangma highlighted on the importance of citizen participation in governance and said, “My government is committed to making delivery of services to the people. We want to serve the people and make them part of the governance process. Deficiency in the implementation of schemes will be addressed, and we will ensure that the people’s voices are heard,” he said.
The Chief Minister announced that similar programs will be held across all 56 blocks of the state, providing a platform for citizens to submit their petitions and raise concerns on the delivery of schemes and implementation of government programs.
The program was attended by several MLAs, including Rupert Momin, Pongseng Marak, Sanjay Sangma, and Ian Botham K. Sangma, as well as various other public representatives.
