Conrad Sangma

Manipur story gets bigger as Conrad Sangma withdraws support to state govt

By withdrawing support from the government, Conrad Sangma has stood up to be counted in the eyes of the Kuki-Zo. Whether that matters is a proposition yet to be tested

Meghalaya CM Sangma discusses Bangladesh's situation with Amit Shah

The meeting, which also included Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, addressed growing concerns among residents in the border regions

Meghalaya set to attract pvt investments worth Rs 8K cr: CM Conrad Sangma

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said Meghalaya is set to attract private investments amounting to Rs 8,000 crore in the current fiscal, attributing this to a new industrial policy aimed at transforming the state into a USD 10 billion economy. "The investment in Meghalaya is an outcome of the new industrial policy that has created an ecosystem for ease of doing business," he said while addressing a workshop on the 'Human Development Leadership Programme' in Tura. Discussing past policies that discouraged investors, Sangma noted, "The system was tedious and time-consuming. Our new industrial policy has provided a framework to give clearance to different statutory requirements within a specified time frame, which is facilitating investors". He revealed that nearly Rs 4,000 crore in investment has been secured in the past year alone. This includes a Rs 2,500-crore thermal power plant to generate 450 megawatt of electricity, an ethanol plant, a beverage manufacturing unit, and

NPP to support BJP candidates in Arunachal: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Sunday that his National People's Party (NPP) would not field any candidates in the two Lok Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh and support the BJP nominees. The NPP is a part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. "The National People's Party has decided not to contest the two Lok Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh. Being partners in the NDA, the NPP National Committee has decided to support NDA candidates in Arunachal Pradesh and has directed its State Committee to extend support to the NDA candidates," Sangma posted on X. Hailing Sangma's decision, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said such commitment of NDA partners will ensure over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections for the ruling alliance. "Such unparalleled commitment among our partners will ensure the NDA under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji secures over 400 seats. Thank you so much Shri @SangmaConrad Ji," Sarma posted on X. The BJP has named

CM Sangma presents Rs 2,029 crore deficit Budget in Meghalaya Assembly

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday presented a Rs 2,029 crore deficit budget for the 2024-25 financial year, calling the document 'Mission 10', an action plan for making the northeastern state a USD 10 billion economy by 2028. In his budget speech, Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that the total receipts stood at Rs 27,072 crore, of which revenue receipts were at Rs 23,515 and capital receipts at Rs 3,557 crore. Excluding borrowings of Rs 3,527 crore, the total receipts were estimated to be at Rs 23,545 crore, while the total expenditure was at Rs 27,072 crore, of which revenue expenditure was estimated to be at Rs 19,653 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 7,419 crore, he said. Excluding the repayment of Rs 1,498 crore loans, the total expenditure is estimated to be at Rs 25,574 crore, the CM said. He said interest payments for the 2024-25 fiscal were estimated to be at Rs 1,236 crore and pension payments at Rs 1,865 crore. "I am, therefore, .

Concerns over CAA addressed, ILP should be extended to Meghalaya: CM

Concerns of Meghalaya over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been addressed as most areas of the state come under Sixth Schedule which are exempted from the citizenship law, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, adding that Inner Line Permit should be extended to the state. In an interview to PTI, Sangma expressed concern over "spill over effect" in the state if the CAA is implemented and stressed on the requirement for Inner Line Permit (ILP), which will restrict entry of outsiders. Asked about CAA, which has faced opposition in the state that shares over 400 kms of border with Bangladesh, Sangma said their concerns have been addressed as it excludes Sixth Schedule areas. "When the CAA had come out in the first draft, there was no provision for exemption for any state. After we raised the concern, we met the home minister, we met other leaders, then there was a revisit in the entire draft and they came up with provision where Meghalaya and other areas with Sixth Schedule and IL

Pick-up truck hits pilot car of Meghalaya CM's convoy, Sangma safe: Police

The pilot car of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma's convoy was hit by a pick-up truck at Upper Shillong on Saturday, police said. The chief minister was safe, a police officer said. The incident took place at around 9:30 am at Upper Shillong while the CM was en route to Dawki town close to the Indo-Bangladesh border for an official programme. According to the police, a pick-up truck hit the pilot car of the CM's convoy which partially caused damage to both the vehicles.

Inclusivity, creativity lie at forefront of developmental policies: Sangma

Emphasising the need to harness the creative potential of the youth, the CM outlined a multi-faceted strategy that encompasses the film industry, music, tourism, and entrepreneurship

Meghalaya govt accepts FRBM Act amendment, allows Rs 400 cr borrowing boost

The Meghalaya cabinet on Thursday approved the amendment to a law, which will enable the state to increase borrowings by up to Rs 400 crore this year. After chairing the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the council of ministers green-lighted the amendment to the Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006. "The Act was also amended last year as per GoI's (Government of India) permission to allow states to increase the budget borrowings based on reforms taken by states on an annual basis. "Last year based on the reforms taken by various departments, our borrowing limit was increased by 4 per cent and for this year, based on the power reforms there will be 0.5 per cent increase in the budget borrowing," Sangma said on X, formerly Twitter. It would allow the government to increase borrowings by up to Rs 400 crore, the chief minister said, The cabinet also approved the proposal for the "adaptation of NCERT textbooks with modifications in certain

Meghalaya retains less than 2% of total rainwater it receives: CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the northeastern state receives 63 billion cubic litres of water annually through rainfall but is able to retain only 1 billion cubic litres of water. He said this on Wednesday while launching the Meghalaya Water Smart Kid campaign, an initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to create awareness about water conservation among children. "Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on earth. We receive about 63 billion cubic litres of water annually, of which 31 billion cubic litres flow to Bangladesh and 31 billion cubic litres flows to Assam," he said. The chief minister said to address the issue of water conservation and sustainability, the state government has taken various interventions, which are supported by externally aided projects (EAPs) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. He informed that 1,000 water reservoirs are being constructed across the state, to harness water and increase the groundwater table through .

Monitoring situation: Meghalaya CM on North-East Express train derailment

Taking to X (former Twitter), Chief Minister Sangma tweeted, "We are in touch with railway authorities and have been monitoring the situation. Citizens of Meghalaya can reach out to State authorities

Look beyond reservation, youth of Northeast competent enough: Meghalaya CM

Young people of the Northeast should change their mindset and look beyond reservation as they are competent enough to compete with anyone in the world, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said. Sangma's statement came over two months after his government appointed an expert committee to review the state's job reservation policy, following demands by different organisations, including the Voice of the People's Party (VPP). "The indigenous community should stop expecting that there will be reservation in all aspects of life. We need to look beyond reservation and the mindset of the youth of the Northeast should be that they are competent enough to compete with anyone in the world," he said. "It is imperative that they have an identity and are proud of it, but they should not take things for granted," he added. Sangma was speaking at a programme organised on the International Day of the World's Indigenous People by the North East Indigenous People's Forum (NEIPF) in Shillong on .

Meghalaya CM Sangma seeks PM Modi's intervention for ILP implementation

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and sought his intervention for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the northeastern state, officials said here. Sangma, who led a delegation, also sought the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. "The delegation on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the PM, seeking his intervention in addressing major concerns of the state -- ILP and inclusion of the two languages, which are spoken by the majority of the people, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution," an official told PTI. ILP is an official travel document issued by the Centre to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. Of the eight states in the northeastern region, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are currently under the ILP regime. Sangma apprised Modi of the inadequacy of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in ...

Meghalaya CM calls for political parties to engage on issues in Northeast

Stressing the significance of dialogue, communication, and discussion, he expressed optimism in finding peaceful resolutions to the issues at hand

Taking steps to improve: Conrad admits Meghalaya's poor NITI Aayog ranking

Admitting to NITI Aayog ranking of Meghalaya as one of the poorest states in the country, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma assured that the state's situation will improve in the next five years. Meghalaya has been ranked among the five poorest states in India in the 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): A Progress Review 2023' report released by Niti Aayog on July 17. The chief minister said he accepted the report and admitted that even if action has been taken, the results may take some time to be seen. We have to accept we have challenges and are lagging behind. We have to start by accepting where we are, what are the challenges we face and work towards improving them, Conrad told PTI. He said, All steps we have taken in the last five years have been towards improving the situation. I am sure that in the next five years, we will see a huge improvement in these numbers. The CM said though the state has a lot of challenges, there are areas where the government has achieved

Mob attacks BSF outpost in Meghalaya, 5 injured; CM says keeping watch

At least five people, including two BSF personnel, were injured when villagers attacked a border outpost in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, officials said on Monday. The incident took place at Umsyiem village near Dawki town, 100 km south of the state capital, on Sunday night after the border guards seized some clothes allegedly meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the situation in the area close to the international border is under control and the state government is keeping a close watch on the development. BSF Meghalaya Frontier inspector general Pradip Kumar told PTI: In the last few days, we seized a number of items meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh and identified the smugglers. Due to this, they led a mob to attack the outpost forcing the BSF to retaliate by firing in the air. In a statement, the BSF said they seized clothes worth over Rs 2.7 lakh meant for smuggling. The BSF foiled two smuggling bids on Sunday. In the morning, the

Over 40,000 youths dependent on drugs need empathy, says Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that altogether 40,500 youths of the state are now dependent on narcotic drugs and they need to be treated with empathy so that they become responsible citizens. Sangma highlighted the state's ambitious Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), a Rs 10 crore programme aimed at eliminating substance abuse by leveraging the participation of communities and religious bodies and coordinating strategies. The state government is making concerted efforts to ensure that Meghalaya becomes a drug-free state. We need to ensure that the 40,500 youth who are totally dependent on drugs are treated with empathy and taken care of so that they can integrate back into society as responsible and productive citizens, he said. The chief minister was addressing the state-level awareness programme on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Sangma said that observing the Day is part of a larger plan to ensure

Take all measures to restore normalcy in Manipur: Meghalaya CM urges Centre

Sangma made the appeal at a meeting called by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to address the concerning situation in Manipur

Assam, Meghalaya CMs scheduled to meet today to discuss border disputes

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma are scheduled to meet here on Wednesday to hold further discussions on resolving border disputes between the two states in six remaining areas. The chief ministers of both the states are also likely to visit the disputed areas later as a goodwill gesture, officials said. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 and it had challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to disputes in 12 areas of the 884.9 km long border between the two states. Sarma on assuming the Chief Minister's office in May, 2021 had announced that his priority was to resolve long-standing boundary disputes with neighbouring states. Subsequently, three regional Committees were set up in August 2021 to resolve the issues in a phased manner. The regional committees submitted their recommendations which were handed over to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi by the two chief ministers, followed

Meghalaya has more schools, teachers than other NE states: CM Conrad Sangma

Meghalaya has close to 14,000 schools and over 55,000 teachers, significantly higher than other small states in the Northeast region, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Tuesday. The state incurs an annual expenditure of almost Rs 2,200 crore for these institutions, the chief minister said while addressing the centenary celebration of Jaiaw Presbyterian Higher Secondary School here. According to Sangma, the expenditure is not enough and Meghalaya needs to strive harder to be among the top-performing states in the country's education sector. He announced that an Education Commission will be set up soon to look into all aspects of improving the education sector in the state. During the function, the chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister's Special Development Fund for expansion of the school building.