Centre to ensure overall development of 836 villages in Meghalaya in next 5 years

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 9, 2021

The Centre has identified over 836 tribal villages in the state for the purpose of extending overall development in the next five years.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters on Friday that the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs had informed that the ministry has decided to take up a large number of tribal villages for overall development purposes in the different tribal states of the country.

“A total of 836 villages in Meghalaya have been identified…the objective being to make these villages self sufficient…the ministry will be funding these villages for five years,” Sangma said.  

He also informed that a meeting will also take place next week, with the joint secretary of the project adding the implementation of the development projects will soon start.

Regarding the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), the chief minister said there was a big concern about these schools since the overall progress of the work is not upto the mark.

“Therefore after discussing with the union tribal affairs minister, we are setting up a task force which will be headed by me. The education minister and education department will also be there besides implementing agencies WAPCOS and Manipur MIDC and officials from the ministry,” he said.

He said all the different issues concerning land and other aspects which led to slowing down of the implementation of the scheme will be taken up by this task force.

“There was concern whether the state or national policy will apply and during the course of the meeting, it was clarified to us that the state reservation policy will be applicable for the recruitment in these schools,” he informed.