SHILLONG, JAN 21: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government is proposing to tie-up with big states in the country for exchanging the ‘best practices’ and support as part of its 100-day programme to mark the 47th Statehood Day celebration.
Announcing this at a government function to commemorate the celebration here in the city on Monday, chief minister Conrad K Sangma asserted the need to work with other states and said, “We can help each other instead of always seeking support from the Centre.”
“We are planning to partner with big states so that we learn and also try to get support in term of investments. Therefore in the future we can change the trend that we don’t only work with the Centre but with the sister states as well,” he added.
Elaborating more on this idea at the sidelines of the function, chief minister said the idea of having this sister state relationship is really to find ways in which there could be exchange of the best practices, support, relationship and find positive things out of our relationship.
Pointing out that it is natural for the North East states to always move the Centre for schemes and projects, he however said, “But I strongly feel that there are lot of other states with whom we could combine and Meghalaya is taking this intiative to tie up with one of the biggest states in the country.”
Asked, Sangma who refused to disclose further details on the matter said the government is working on this and the bigger states could be Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
He said these states have their own resources, own advantages and own plus points and Meghalaya too has also got its own plus points and best practices adding “there is a platform that could be created where we could share those best practices among each other.”
The chief minister cited that Meghalaya’s social audit system is one best practices which other states are wanting to follow and said, “These kind of practices can be given to them also.”
“I am hoping will be able to do this in the next hundred days. We will talk to the selective states with whom we want to tie up and draw up MoU and plan of actions on how we can move this forward,” he added.
On the other hand, Sangma said making the government secretariat an energy efficient building by shifting to the use of LED bulbs will also be part of the programmes to be achieved within hundred days.
He said the urban department will also be asked to replace all street lights with LED lights. This will be done on a public-private-partnership mode and “the saving we made from power consumption will pay back to the private investors”.
Urging the use of electric vehicles, Sangma said that he would also start using electric vehicle more often adding that charging point will be installed in the secretariat and other places.
He said different departments including health, agriculture, tourism and others will also come up with programmes which they will be directed to achieve within the specified period.
Sangma further lamented that over 12,000 self help groups (SHGs) are yet to receive loans from the banks despite of the fact that the banks have set a target to extend the same to around 2000 SHGs within this financial year.
“We want all the SHGs must be given loans within 100 days,” he said while informing that programmes relating to environment and others will also be taken up as part of the programme.
Remembering the contributions made by the hill state movement leaders, the chief minister also emphasized the need to document and collect information related to the struggles that led to the attainment of Meghalaya statehood in 1972 till date.
“The state is going to celebrate its 50th year in 2022. I urge the Directorate of Public Relations (DIPR) to start documenting the journey of the state. I have also discussed with the chief secretary on the need for museums to have a section which talks about hill state movement leaders and their struggles,” he said.
He said Meghalaya day need to be celebrated with full enthusiasm and assured that more efforts will be put into this regard.
“It is important to remind ourselves especially the younger generation about the struggles of our forefathers which will allow us to value the fact we have our own state,” the CM added.
By Our Reporter
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