Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for infrastructure and development projects worth Rs 1,087.81 crore in Meghalaya.
Addressing an Integrated Public Programme at the LARITI — International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture in Shillong, Sitharaman praised the state’s progress and credited Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s leadership for effective implementation of central schemes.
The finance minister said Meghalaya had made full use of the Rs 5,400 crore allocated under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). “Some states are not able to utilise their share fully; here we have Meghalaya using its quota entirely,” she said.
Sitharaman said the Centre views the Northeast as a region that needs to be empowered and strengthened. She noted that over 540 km of roads have been built in the state and optical fibre coverage has increased five-fold since 2014.
She also highlighted Meghalaya’s performance in schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
Sangma thanked the Centre for its continued support, saying Sitharaman’s visit would help address local concerns. “This visit is not only for official programmes but also to connect with citizens and understand firsthand the issues we face,” he said.
Reiterating the state’s goal of becoming one of India’s top ten states by 2032, Sangma said Meghalaya has tapped Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) as a major funding source for development. Total funding through various schemes and EAPs has reached nearly Rs 12,000 crore, he said.
—IANS
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