Shillong: During the first live pre-budget consultation session for the fiscal year 2025-26, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the state’s own tax revenue has seen a significant increase, rising from Rs 1,450 crore in 2018 to Rs 3,217 crore.
The chief minister also highlighted the growth in excise revenue, which has surged from Rs 199 crore to Rs 458 crore over the past six years.
He expressed optimism that the revenue would surpass Rs 520 crore this year.
Sangma credited this growth to the government’s focused efforts to address revenue leakages, particularly in the excise sector.
“From Rs 199 crore to Rs 500 crore reflects our government’s commitment to plugging loopholes,” he said.
Sangma further emphasized the role of technology in minimising leakages, noting that effective use of technology is essential to monitor sales and movements accurately.
“We must implement technology properly to track every transaction,” he added.
Turning to the education sector, Sangma shared that the state has significantly increased its budget for schools, higher education, and technical education, with funding rising from Rs 1,085 crore to Rs 2,338 crore, reflecting a 14% increase.
He noted that nearly 2,500 schools had either received new buildings or undergone renovations in the past four years.
Additionally, the Shillong Medical College is slated to begin operations by September-October 2025.
On the Tura Medical College, Sangma acknowledged challenges in staffing, particularly the shortage of doctors and professors, but reassured that efforts are underway to address the issue.
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The chief minister also spoke about the state’s push for more private universities in the region, with hopes for positive developments in the coming months.
He acknowledged the complexities within the education system but expressed confidence that sustained efforts would lead to improvements.
“It requires significant effort to resolve the complications within the education department,” Sangma explained.
“While many issues have built up over the years, we are committed to gradually untangling these problems while balancing the overall system and finances. With continued focus and substantial budget allocations, we are optimistic about the future of education in Meghalaya,” he added.
