Shillong: The “Our Magnificent Vision 2032 | Meghalaya” programme marking eight years of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government was held at the P. A. Sangma Sports Complex in Meghalaya’s Tura on Friday (March 6).
The event was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, Speaker of the Assembly Thomas A. Sangma, Tourism and Agriculture Minister Timothy D. Shira, and Public Health Engineering, Soil & Water Conservation and Housing Minister Marcuise N. Marak, along with other ministers, MLAs and officials.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister reflected on the government’s eight-year journey, acknowledging the challenges faced while thanking the people for their continued support.
He said that despite numerous difficulties, the government had been able to overcome many obstacles with the cooperation and trust of citizens.
The chief minister also mentioned receiving a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Meghalaya Day, congratulating the state on its progress and recognising the economic transformation taking place.
Sangma said it was encouraging that a small state like Meghalaya is now competing with some of the country’s more advanced states in terms of economic growth.
He added that while economic expansion is important, maintaining fiscal discipline and ensuring sustainable development are equally essential for long-term progress.
Highlighting the achievements of the past eight years, the chief minister said infrastructure projects such as new government buildings, roads and schools are important, but the real measure of success lies in improving the lives of people. According to him, the greatest satisfaction for the government comes from seeing a positive change in the lives of citizens.
Sangma emphasised that governance should ultimately focus on the impact it creates in people’s everyday lives rather than just physical infrastructure. He also said that officials, ministers and legislators work with a shared commitment to bring meaningful change to society.
“What sets this government apart is its resolve to persevere and the belief that every effort made can bring positive change to someone’s life somewhere in the state,” he added.
He described the government’s eighth anniversary as a celebration of service to the people and noted that development remains an ongoing process. The government, he said, is committed to addressing remaining gaps and improving service delivery across the state.
Calling for unity, the chief minister urged communities to resolve differences through dialogue and cooperation. “Unity has always been our strength, and we must continue to work together in a spirit of unity to take our state forward,” CM Sangma said.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong described the programme as a significant milestone, noting that the MDA government began its tenure on March 6, 2018, under the leadership of Conrad K. Sangma. He acknowledged that the journey had not been easy but said the government had overcome many challenges over the years.
Tynsong thanked the people for their support and highlighted that financial assistance worth around Rs 220 crore was distributed to beneficiaries during the programme. He said the funds were being provided directly to citizens to support welfare and development initiatives.
He also urged citizens and civil society organisations to work together with the government in implementing development programmes, emphasising that the government remains open to discussions and suggestions.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma praised the achievements of the MDA government and congratulated the chief minister for becoming the longest-serving chief minister in the state’s history. He also expressed hope that both the ruling side and the opposition would work together to realise the goals of Vision 2032 across Meghalaya.
Tourism and Agriculture Minister Timothy D. Shira said the progress made in the past eight years had brought significant positive changes to the state. He highlighted the impact of various flagship schemes and called on citizens to continue supporting efforts aimed at building a prosperous Meghalaya.
During the event, the chief minister launched the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for the academic year 2025–26, benefiting 98,751 students with financial assistance of more than Rs 5 crore. A Uniform Grant through Direct Benefit Transfer amounting to over Rs 3 crore for 50,000 students was also announced.
Financial assistance was distributed to beneficiaries under several schemes, including CM Farm+, the CM Elevate SEED Scheme and the CM Homestay Mission. Additional support was provided to beneficiaries under the Green Meghalaya+ initiative and the VDVK food cart programme.
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The chief minister also inaugurated 101 community halls constructed under the ‘Project for Community-Based Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement in Meghalaya’, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.
He also inaugurated eight warehouses and Common Facility Centres in the Garo Hills region under the CM Elevate initiative to strengthen local value chains and support community enterprises.
