Shillong: Marking eight years of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in power, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced a major scholarship initiative for students across the state.
The programme, scheduled for March 6, will see financial assistance extended to more than one lakh students as part of the government’s anniversary observance.
Speaking during the budget discussion in the Assembly on Wednesday, the chief minister described the completion of eight years in office as a significant and proud moment for the ruling alliance.
He said the anniversary would not only be a symbolic occasion but also an opportunity to give back to the people of the state through student-focused welfare measures.
According to Sangma, the Chief Minister’s Scholarship scheme will be formally released on March 6 as a central feature of the anniversary programme, benefitting students from different regions of Meghalaya.
He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and long-term investment in education.
The chief minister also spoke at length about the state government’s broader efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly for students in rural and underprivileged areas.
He highlighted the introduction of guidebooks for Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) students as a key intervention aimed at improving pass percentages and reducing dropout rates.
Sangma said that failure in Class 10 examinations often has devastating consequences for students, as it can shatter confidence and limit future opportunities.
He stressed that thousands of students face this challenge every year, and the government has a responsibility to prevent young lives from being derailed due to lack of academic support.
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Emphasising that school-level examinations are not elite competitive tests like civil services exams, he said every child deserves a fair chance to move forward in life.
It was with this perspective, he explained, that the government introduced guidebooks—similar to what is already provided in many education boards and states across the country.
Pointing out that rural students often lack access to such learning resources, the chief minister said the guidebook initiative was designed to bridge that gap.
He praised the Education Department and the state’s education minister for implementing the programme, calling it one of the most meaningful contributions the government is making to support children’s future prospects.
The scholarship distribution on March 6, he said, will stand as a symbolic and practical reflection of the MDA government’s eight years of service to the people of Meghalaya, with education remaining at the centre of its development agenda.
