Shillong, July 18: Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Krishan Pal Gurjar, concluded his two-day official visit to Meghalaya today as part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to assess and accelerate developmental initiatives in the North East.
The minister engaged with senior state officials, district administrators, and departments to review the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure, social empowerment, and livelihood-based programs.
Highlighting the Centre’s commitment to upliftment of remote regions, Gurjar said, “The Government of India’s vision for a Viksit Bharat can only be achieved when every region, including remote and hilly areas like Meghalaya, progresses hand-in-hand with the rest of the country.”
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He emphasised the importance of effective Centre-State coordination, digital monitoring, and efficient fund utilisation, while calling for the timely and transparent execution of projects.
Gurjar reviewed the progress of flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Lakhpati Didi initiative, Jal Jeevan Mission, and the strengthening of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies among other centrally sponsored schemes.
He acknowledged the successful implementation of these programs, noting that grassroots feedback is crucial for policy evaluation and real-time course correction.
During his address he mentioned the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University on July 5 under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating, “This is the first university in India dedicated to cooperative education. It will offer specialised training in cooperative management, finance, law, and rural development. The aim is to produce professionals who will lead the cooperative movement across the country.”
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The university will be affiliated with universities across India and will integrate cooperative education into mainstream academics, especially targeting tribal and rural youth.
He added that the Ministry of Cooperation has set a target to create two lakh new multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies within two years, encouraging economic self-reliance through community-driven models. Earlier, these societies were largely limited to credit and loan functions but have now been transformed into multipurpose institutions supporting agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and rural enterprise.
On the concluding day of his visit, Gurjar also addressed the media, acknowledging the challenges in land acquisition due to hilly terrain, forest cover, and community ownership for critical infrastructure projects like airports and railways in Meghalaya. He said, “In a democracy, we must listen to people’s concerns. Environmental sensitivity and local participation must go hand-in-hand with development.”
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The minister appreciated the efforts of the Meghalaya administration and civil society for the visible progress on the ground. He noted that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has seen a significant decline in violence and insurgency, stronger financial support from the Centre, and increased ministerial outreach over the years.
He called for transforming Khasi Hills into a model of development, stating, “Let it be an example of what a truly developed India can look like. I am truly pleased to see the honest and dedicated efforts made by the administration here in Khasi Hills. It is visible on the ground, and I congratulate everyone involved.”
(Newmai News Network)