Meghalaya Seeks Over Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore from Centre to Address Development Needs

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has sought over ₹1.5 lakh crore from the central government to address Meghalaya's critical developmental needs.

The memorandum was presented to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during pre-budget consultations held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The focus of this allocation is to improve infrastructure, expand digital services, enhance rural livelihoods, and strengthen financial inclusion across the state.

Sangma further reiterated that the SASCI scheme needs to be continued and enlarged as it has played an important role in capital project funding. He also demanded an allocation of over Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the fiscal 2025-26 and suggested a specific Rs 10,000 crore for seven states of the northeastern region (not including Assam).

He underlined that the difficult terrain of the region usually leads to a 35% to 50% higher cost in infrastructures than in the rest of the country and, therefore, requires further support. To bridge the digital divide, the Chief Minister proposed putting in place 1,000 Citizen Digital Service Delivery Centers (CDSDCs) in Meghalaya to bring critical government services relating to welfare programs, banking, healthcare, and education, especially in remote corners where digital literacy is the least. The centers will offer a hub for digital literacy training so that, especially marginalized communities, can access and benefit from government initiatives.

Recognizing the increasing number of women-led SHGs in Meghalaya, Sangma recommended that 1,000 service delivery centers for village organizations be constructed. These service delivery centers would provide rural women with safe workspaces, thereby fostering entrepreneurial growth.

This would enable women to contribute more meaningfully to the state's economy. He requested the Finance Ministry to support this through the SASCI scheme as an extension of the existing "Working Women Hostels" program.

The other area on which the memorandum placed a heavy emphasis was financial inclusion. Sangma recommended one-person rural bank branches and double the number of rural bank branches in Meghalaya. He proposed that funds for these initiatives can be offered through viability gap funding or the Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF). This is in a move to address the banking service deficit in Meghalaya's hilly areas.

On urban development, Sangma said that the impact of schemes like AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 has been minimal in Meghalaya. Even though there is some change, like the population criterion, which was done away with, the northeast still gets a small proportion. He suggested that the budget for AMRUT be increased and that a separate budget be provided for northeastern and hilly cities, as they have specific problems with infrastructure.

For water supply infrastructure under Jal Jeevan Mission, Sangma proposed a cost-sharing model of 50:50 for the initial 2-3 years of operation and maintenance cost. This, he reasoned, would reduce the financial burden on the state, save the previous investments, and sustain the long-term functioning of water supply systems in rural areas.

The Chief Minister suggested increasing the loan limit of SHGs from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh and introducing a 3% interest subvention for prompt loan repayment to support women-led micro-enterprises. These measures, similar to the Kisan Credit Card framework, are designed to increase financial opportunities for SHG members and encourage rural entrepreneurship.

Sangma's proposals reflect the developmental needs of Meghalaya, which are pressing, and aspirations to align with India's broader growth agenda. He underlined that with proper central assistance, the state could make significant strides in transforming its socio-economic landscape and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

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