Tura: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday inaugurated the CM Connect Centre at P.A. Sangma Stadium in Tura, West Garo Hills, marking a major step towards strengthening direct communication between citizens and the government.
The centre will serve as a dedicated platform for grievance redressal and public engagement, allowing people to contact the government through the toll-free number 1971 – CM Connect, WhatsApp, chatbots, and an official website.
Citizens can share concerns, suggestions, and queries for timely resolution through this multi-channel system.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief Minister described CM Connect as “an idea” aimed at ensuring governance remains people-centric. “If the head of the government is unable to understand the concerns of the people, it creates a gap that hinders effective governance,” Sangma said.
The initiative will function through three approaches: technology-driven outreach, direct engagement with citizens during public programs, and physical centres in all 56 blocks of Meghalaya.
Over time, these centres will evolve into one-stop service hubs offering certificates, applications, and access to government schemes.
Sangma also emphasized the importance of courtesy and accountability in service delivery.
“When you speak to the people, you are speaking on my behalf. Every citizen who walks into the CM Connect office must feel welcome and respected,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal is to make all government services accessible through these centres.
After the inauguration, the Chief Minister personally attended to the first complaint registered at the centre.
Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, who attended the event, termed the launch “a proud milestone” and said the platform would empower citizens across all sections of society.
He noted that CM Connect bridges the gap between the administration and the people while reinforcing transparency and grassroots democracy.
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The system integrates multiple access points: toll-free numbers 1971 and 1800-345-651, a dedicated WhatsApp helpline (94363-94363), and support in five languages—English, Khasi, Garo, Pnar, and Hindi.
A call centre with 25 trained agents operates from 8 AM to 8 PM, supported by 470 village data volunteers to ensure last-mile connectivity.
Since its launch on February 15, 2024, CM Connect has logged over 38,266 citizen interactions, including 31,891 calls, and held seven community outreach programmes across various blocks.
Officials said the Tura centre is part of a broader plan to create a responsive, accountable governance system across Meghalaya.
