Tura: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday released the second and final instalment of the Umbrella Post Matric Scholarship, disbursing Rs. 130 crore to nearly 70,000 students for the 2024–25 academic year.
The programme, held at the Tura district auditorium, was attended by Education Minister Lakhmen Rymbui, Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal and Director of Higher and Technical Education Hazel D B Sangma.
Sangma told the gathering that the state government had sanctioned the full amount from its own resources as scholarship funds from the Centre were yet to arrive.
The advance release, he said, was aimed at easing financial difficulties faced by students.
He added that although earlier rules prevented advance scholarship transfers, the state had now worked out a mechanism with the Centre to allow early disbursal.
Once the Rs. 130 crore is transferred to Meghalaya Rural Bank, processing and account verification will take a few days before the amounts reach students.
The chief minister urged students to ensure their bank accounts are Aadhaar-linked to avoid delays.
Reiterating that education remains a top priority, Sangma said reforms to resolve long-pending concerns of ad hoc and SSA teachers were nearing completion and could be implemented in the next financial year.
Addressing thousands of students who joined virtually from 200 locations across the state, Sangma also highlighted youth-focused initiatives such as CM Elevate, YESS Meghalaya, PRIME, MGMP, STAR and Hello Meghalaya.
He said the government’s development roadmap extends to 2047, with policies aimed at positioning young people as key drivers of the state’s growth.
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“You will be in the driver’s seat to take us into that phase of 2047 where Meghalaya should become one of the best states in the country,” he said.
Education Minister Rymbui described the day as a “red-letter day” for students, marking the fulfilment of the government’s commitment to expand access to education.
The event saw participation from heads of institutions, teachers and education department officials, with about 7,000 students attending online.
