Shillong, Mar 6: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the biggest achievement of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government is to bring a smile to the face of a citizen.
The MDA commemorated its eight years rule today at the P. A. Sangma Sports Complex in Tura and named the programme, ‘Our Magnificent Meghalaya Vision 2032’.
Reflecting on the achievements, the Chief Minister said that while infrastructure development was important, the true measure of progress lies in improving people’s lives.
“People often ask me what the greatest achievement of the last eight years is—whether it is the new Secretariat coming up in Shillong, the Additional Secretariat being constructed in Tura, the many roads built, or the schools constructed. While all these are important, the greatest satisfaction I get is being able to bring a smile to the face of a citizen,” he said.
Sangma said the government has overcome challenges and difficulties while thanking the people of Meghalaya for their continued support.
He said the state’s development progress had been recognised nationally, noting that he had received a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Meghalaya Day, who commended the state for maintaining fiscal discipline while pursuing economic growth.
“While economic growth is essential, it must also be sustainable and balanced, with careful management of our resources,” he added.
He emphasised that governance is not just about buildings or infrastructure but improving the lives of the citizens. “What makes this government different is the determination not to give up and the belief that every effort we make can change someone’s life somewhere in our State,” he said.
The Chief Minister also called for unity among communities and urged people to resolve differences through dialogue. “Hatred between tribes or communities can never be the solution. Unity has always been our strength, and we must continue to work together in a spirit of unity to take our State forward,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong described the occasion as a significant milestone, recalling that the MDA government began its journey on March 6, 2018. He highlighted that financial assistance worth about Rs 220 crore was distributed to beneficiaries during the programme.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma lauded the achievements of the MDA and expressed hope that both the government and the opposition would continue to work together to ensure that the promise of Vision 2032 becomes a reality.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released the scholarship scheme of over Rs 5 crore for the academic year 2025–26 benefiting 98,751 students and the uniform grant of over Rs 3 crore to 50,000 students.
Financial assistance was distributed to beneficiaries under CM Farm+, the CM Elevate SEED Scheme and the CM Homestay Mission. Support was also extended to beneficiaries under the Green Meghalaya+ initiative and VDVK food cart programme.
During the event, the Chief Minister also remotely inaugurated 101 community halls constructed across the State under the Project for Community-Based Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in Meghalaya, jointly supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund. He also inaugurated eight warehouses and Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in the Garo Hills region developed under the CM Elevate initiative to strengthen local value chains and support community-based enterprises.
