“Meghalaya has given the message of nature, progress, conservation, and eco-sustainability to the world.”
- PM Modi
Prime Minister Modi's government has placed special emphasis on the development of the North East, unlike previous administrations. This region, long marginalised in terms of mainstream attention, cultural integration, and developmental focus, has witnessed a transformative shift since PM Modi assumed office in 2014.
During the last decade, the North Eastern region has experienced remarkable development across various fronts, including substantial budgetary allocations, infrastructural enhancements, cultural acknowledgment, and reverence for forgotten heroes. PM Modi's government has shattered the trend of neglect, elevating the North East to a position of respect and priority within the national framework.
The state of Meghalaya, in particular, has been a key beneficiary of this developmental juggernaut. Be it in the area of infra upgrade, economic transformation or welfare, the state’s growth trajectory has received a decisive boost under PM Modi.
PM Modi’s government has paid singular attention to the development of the poor and the marginalised. Food, water, and electricity that form the basics of life were seen lacking across the length and breadth of the country, especially in the northeastern region even after decades of gaining independence.
Ensuring that no one sleeps hungry, the Modi government is operating the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana which provides free food grains to 80 crore Indians. Over 21 lakh people in Meghalaya are beneficiaries of this initiative (as in Dec 2023).
The Modi government has been committed to provide Water for All under its Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide tap water connections to all rural households. Under this revolutionary initiative, 4.85 lakh tap water connections have been provided in Meghalaya. The coverage has been remarkably increased to 75% of rural households as against a meagre 0.7% in 2019. Additionally, over 3 lakh toilets have been constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
Further nearly 2 lakh houses have been sanctioned under PM Awas Yojana out of which 1.88 lakh houses have figured in the rural areas.
The government’s peerless initiative transforming India’s healthcare landscape—Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana—serves the northeastern region in equal measure. Today there are 19 lakh Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in Meghalaya, also receiving benefits of affordable medicines via 18 functional Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Further the government has saved multitudes of women from smoke-ridden kitchens with its PM Ujjwala Yojana. Over 10 crore LPG connections have been distributed across the country with over 3 lakh beneficiaries from the state of Meghalaya.
In addition, over 84,000 crore farmers are supported via PM KISAN, which provides an annual financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 to eligible farmers. 70% of these are women farmers.
Financial inclusion is another area where PM Modi’s government has made tremendous strides. PM Jan Dhan Yojana has been a pioneering initiative in that regard. Today nearly 52 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in the country out of which 55% are owned by women. Meghalaya has over 7.6 lakh Jan Dhan accounts with 58% of them belonging to women. Out of these, over 57,000 are from Ribhoi, an aspirational district in Meghalaya (61% of the accounts here are women-owned).
As India has emerged as the 5th largest economy in the world, employment generation and entrepreneurship promotion have been high on the agenda of the Modi government. Initiatives like Startup India, Standup India, PM Mudra Yojana, and PM SVANidhi are notable interventions in this direction.
Under Standup India, over Rs. 110 crore have been sanctioned to 504 entrepreneurs in Meghalaya. Similarly, Rs. 2,450 crore have been sanctioned under PM Mudra Yojana assisting over 2.6 lakh beneficiaries in the state with 52% being women and 44% belonging to the SC/ST category.
PM SVANidhi, on the other hand, has emerged as an enterprising drive securing collateral-free loans to nearly 3,000 street vendors in Meghalaya (78% of whom are women and 73% belong to the ST category).
In terms of social security, Meghalaya has over 7.4 lakh enrolments under PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, nearly 4 lakh enrolments under PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and nearly 58,000 enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana.
In March 2024, the Union Cabinet has approved the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialisation Scheme, 2024 (UNNATI – 2024) for a period of 10 years for development of industries and generation of employment in North East Region at a total cost of over Rs. 10,000 crore.
Prime Minister Modi’s government has kept connectivity at the core of its developmental agenda in the North East.
In terms of roadways, over 379 km of National Highways have been constructed in Meghalaya while development of 170 km of National Highway corridors with tentative total capital cost of over Rs. 2,700 crore have been approved for the state under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Interestingly, Meghalaya was brought on the railway map with the commissioning of Dudhnoi-Mendipathar railway line in 2014. The state got its first electric trains in 2023 with PM Modi dedicating the newly electrified New Bongaingaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipathar section. Today, the Mendipathar railway station is being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat scheme.
Shillong which is under the Smart Cities Mission saw its airport being made functional under the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN. 8 new air routes have also been operationalised. The airport at Shillong is also covered under the Krishi Udan Scheme to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products.
On March 9, 2024, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs. 290 crore in Meghalaya. Besides, 14 projects at an approved cost of over Rs. 569 crore have been allotted to Meghalaya under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).
In Dec 2022, PM Modi had laid foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated multiple projects worth over Rs. 2450 crore in Shillong, including new campus of IIM Shillong at Umsawli, 4G mobile towers, Spawn Laboratory at Mushroom Development Center and Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre in Meghalaya, and Integrated Hospitality and Convention Centre at Tura.
The government has also sanctioned over Rs. 29 crore for infrastructural development promoting tourism in Meghalaya under PRASHAD scheme. Over Rs. 184 crore have been sanctioned for development of North-East Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Strengthening the spirit of cooperative federalism, the Modi government has been periodically releasing advance tax devolution to strengthen the hands of state governments for financing various social welfare measures and infrastructure development schemes. Central transfers to Meghalaya, in particular, have increased substantially with tax devolution increasing by around 565% in the last 10 years of the Modi government (till Feb 2024). Grants-in-aid have also increased by over 69% in nine years of PM Modi’s government compared to the 10 years of the previous government. Additional grants-in-aid of over Rs. 7,600 crore were budgeted for release in the current financial year 2023-24.
It is noteworthy that over Rs. 4 lakh crore have been invested in the North East region in nine years of the Modi government by 55 ministries and departments—more than the cumulative spending made in 25 years before that. Over Rs. 94,000 crore had been budgeted in FY2023-24.
In addition, the North-eastern States have been the biggest beneficiaries in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, recording a compound annual GST revenue growth rate of 27.5% since the implementation of the GST (2017-18 to 2022-23) as against 14.8% for all States.
All these steps signify that the government led by Prime Minister Modi has left no stone unturned in fostering the development of the North Eastern region, particularly Meghalaya. Whether it pertains to infrastructural advancements, support for farmers and women, or the promotion of employment among the youth, the North Eastern region has embarked on a path of progress, with Meghalaya bearing witness to tangible transformations.
