Shillong, Feb 21 ( UNI) Meghalaya is all set to double its GSDP to $10 billion within the next five years, to achieve the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024-25, remarked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, in the sixth meeting of the governing council of the commission of NITI Aayog, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via virtual mode on Saturday.



Mr Sangma also expressed his confidence that NITI Aayog’s fundamental approach of cooperative federalism will promote good governance and will guide the achievement of the vision of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’.



Elaborating on doubling the GSDP, the chief minister stated that Meghalaya has identified six pillars - Human Capital Development, Primary Sector Rejuvenation, Infrastructure Development, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Governance.



“We want to be among the top 10 states in terms of Per Capita Income and Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals within the next 10 years,” the Chief Minister said.



He also spelled out different core areas, which has been accorded priority by the government to accelerate growth and development.



Informing that 80 per cent of the population are from the rural areas and are dependent on agriculture, he stated that there are almost 4.5 lakh agricultural households in the state and the government have drawn a comprehensive plan to improve the production, productivity, credit linkage and access to markets.



He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Prime Minister Modi for PMGSY under which Meghalaya has been able to spend almost Rs 2,500 crore for the construction of 1,950 km of rural roads.



“We are building over 500 km of roads and bridges at a cost of Rs. 1,100 Cr which is being funded by the World Bank”, he added.



Informing that he was personally monitoring the progress of Jal Jeevan Mission of the Government of India, the Chief Minister said, “Prime Minister has set the vision of providing all the rural households with a ‘Functional Household Water Connection’ by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission. I would like to inform you that in my State, we have set an ambitious target of covering all the 5.9 lakh rural households by 2022 itself.



He also informed that the new water supply schemes funded under various schemes of Government of India are being taken up across the state including the Greater Baghmara Water Supply Schemes sanctioned under NESIDS and Nongstoin Water Supply Scheme funded under scheme for special assistance to states for capital expenditure.



“In the Education Sector, a comprehensive plan for repair and upgradation of infrastructure at all the primary and secondary schools of the state has been approved at a cost of Rs 100 crore. We are also undertaking the tasks of the up-gradation and improvement of degree colleges at a cost of Rs 36 crore,” the Chief Minister added.



He also informed that under a World Bank Funded project, all the health facilities in the state are being upgraded at a cost of Rs 350 crore.



While talking about realizing the vision of an ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, the Chief Minister focused on entrepreneurship and apprised the meeting of Meghalaya government’s comprehensive program called PRIME which was launched with an objective of making entrepreneurship a preferred career choice for the youth in the state.



On tourism, Sangma said that with a focus on sustainability and experiential tourism, the government has under a ‘New Development Bank’ funded project at a cost of Rs 730 crore.



The Chief Minister said that under the project, the government has envisaged developing new tourism circuits, building essential infrastructure and undertaking several upskilling programs.



In a series of tweets, the Chief Minister said that Meghalaya has initiated various projects to ensure livelihood to the people, including India’s largest Piggery Mission with an investment of Rs 209 crore.



In another tweet, he stressed on the need of Sister-State relationship and the role of Government of India for fostering reciprocal economic development in States.

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