Focus is on job creation: Conrad K Sangma

CM reviews MDA performance after one year in office

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said the government is doing all it can to boost the agricultural and tourism sectors so that more jobs are created in the State.

When asked what his government was doing to create employment the Chief Minister said, “Job creation is one of the main priorities. We hope all the actions taken in the last one year will continue and we will be able to create more jobs for the youth. Whether it is the Milk Mission, Lakadong Mission, Swadesh Darshan, IT parks and others, every single project that we are doing is aimed towards economic development which ultimately will lead to job creation.”

Conrad was speaking to journalists on the completion of one year of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

He said that the government has realized that in the coming years, the country and Meghalaya is going to see a huge inflow of young people into the job market.

“Therefore, as a government, it is a our responsibility to plan for the next 5 to 10 years realizing those challenges,” Conrad stated.

He also pointed out that looking only at the government to create jobs would not be the right policy and that is why this government has realized that entrepreneurship is the way forward.

Conrad pointed out that livelihoods can be created in the agricultural sector, tourism sector, food processing and veterinary.

The Chief Minister also said jobs have to be created not just in the urban areas but also in rural areas.

When asked to specify what were the challenges faced by the MDA in its one year of governing the State, he pointed out that the issue of coal mining is a challenge since the government is trying to balance it out between ecology and economy and the overall environment.

“I think that aspect is important for us and we are trying to ensure that the economy, livelihood and environment should not suffer and go hand in hand,” Conrad said.

On the Ksan mining tragedy, he said this matter concerns the government.

The Chief Minister pointed out that after the incident, the government has set up a committee in all the districts, especially in those districts where coal mining is taking place, and each of these district committees are headed by a Deputy Commissioner.

According to him, these committees have been asked to ensure that it regularly goes to the mine sites and check if any illegal mining is taking place.

Conrad said the committees are to send regular reports to the government to ensure that no illegal mining is taking place and take action against people if they find any illegal mining activities.

Meanwhile, on the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam, the Chief Minister said apart from the safety of residents, the government is trying to bring development in those places.

“No matter what the issue, no matter what kind of complication there is, development is one aspect that should not be affected. People in the border areas should be safe and should get proper facilities like in any other part of the State irrespective of the claims that are being made by the two States,” Conrad said.

The Chief Minister also informed that both the governments of Meghalaya and Assam are always in dialogue and discussion at the official and non-official levels even as he pointed out that the issue is a little complicated.

Also read: Meghalaya news