Legislators of the ruling coalition in Meghalaya, including the eight sworn in as parliamentary secretaries on Monday, gather outside the new Assembly building at Rilbong in Shillong. Picture by Eastern Projections

Shillong, March 24: Meghalaya Governor S.S. Sidhu today said the new government would provide clean and efficient governance.

Addressing the Assembly on the first day of the budget session, Sidhu said the government was committed to the overall development of the state and reduction of regional imbalances.

At a cabinet meeting on March 20, soon after the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government (MPA) was formed, the governor’s address prepared by the previous nine-day-old Congress-led government was amended. The shift in approach was in keeping with the programmes and policies of the new MPA government.

With the Planning Commission projecting a plan size of Rs 9,185 crore for Meghalaya during the Eleventh Plan, the state’s projected growth has been fixed at 7.3 per cent. This is 1.7 per cent less than the national projected growth rate of 9 per cent. Sidhu said Meghalaya must accelerate its development and economic efforts so that it can grow at a faster pace than envisaged in order to catch up with the rest of the country.

“There should be focused and well-directed investment and employment promotion policies, coupled with a better framework of implementation, grassroots-level participation in plan and programmes and enhanced absorptive capacities across the sectors,” he said.

In a shift from the programmes of earlier governments, the governor said the new government would focus on women and child welfare, improvement of environment, provision of safe drinking water and sanitation and alleviation of poverty.

Without directly mentioning the disparities in the pace of development in the Khasi Hills and the Garo Hills, Sidhu said the intra and inter-regional disparity in infrastructure and human development index in the state would be analysed and resolved. On law and order, the governor said police operations against militant outfits would continue. He also said the government was committed to completing border fencing.

Sidhu said steps would be taken to address the shortcomings in the mechanisation of agriculture and special emphasis would be laid on organic cultivation. “Organic certification of key crops will be taken up and training imparted to farmers in this regard,” he added.

MLAs sworn in

Eight parliamentary secretaries were sworn in by chief minister Donkupar Roy today to accommodate the legislators who were left out of the ministry.

The legislators include Ampreen Lyngdoh and Remingtone Pyngrope of the UDP, and NCP legislators James Sangma, Nihim D. Shira, Marcuise Marak, Desang Sangma, Phillipole Marak and Omillo Sangma.

Meningitis death: Meningococcal meningitis, a disease caused by bacteria, has claimed one life and affected 53 others in Meghalaya.

Director of health services K.H. Lakiang today said the disease had affected Jaintia Hills district and parts of Shillong.

Those affected have been admitted to various hospitals in the city. The first case was reported in January, Lakiang said.