Shillong, Sept. 7: Meghalaya Congress ministers will now have to tour the district headquarters more often, both for political reasons and governance issues.

The decision was taken at a party meeting held here on Friday where AICC general secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Luizinho Faleiro, Meghalaya PCC chief D.D. Lapang and chief minister Mukul Sangma along with a host of party workers were present.

This is the first time in recent years that the Congress has taken such a decision where ministers would be made in-charge of districts in the state.

“Ministers will now be visiting the district headquarters regularly, and guardian ministers, who will be in-charge of every district, will be appointed so that we can handle not only the party activities but also synchronise the development actions of the state,” Faleiro said.

The chief minister and the PCC chief would oversee the appointment of the guardian ministers, the AICC general secretary said.

According to the itinerary of the Friday meeting, it was mentioned that ministers “should be asked” to visit district headquarters regularly.

Meghalaya has 11 cabinet ministers, excluding the chief minister, and an equal number of districts.

Eight cabinet ministers of the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government belong to the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region while the remaining three are from Garo hills.

District-wise, five cabinet ministers hail from East Khasi Hills, two from West Jaintia Hills, one from South West Khasi Hills, two from West Garo Hills, and one from East Garo Hills. The chief minister is from the South West Garo Hills district.

At the meeting, flagship programmes, which were initiated during the 10- year UPA rule, were also discussed.

Party workers were reportedly asked to carry out sensitisation programmes regarding implementation of the National Food Security Act, and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.

Faleiro had met members belonging to the Meghalaya PCC, frontal organisations, district and block committees, district councils, Meghalaya State Coordination Committee, Manifesto Implementation Committee besides members of the cabinet.