Shillong: Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan was felicitated at a public reception hosted by the Government and people of Meghalaya at Soso Tham Auditorium on Monday, where he promised continued backing for the state’s development and inaugurated a slate of infrastructure projects.
Thanking the state for its hospitality, the Vice-President assured Meghalaya of his enduring support as it charts its development path. He also paid tribute to his former Lok Sabha colleague, the late P. A. Sangma, calling him a formidable leader and orator who left a lasting mark on India’s parliamentary democracy.
Mr. Radhakrishnan spoke warmly of the state’s cultural richness, scenic landscapes, and distinctive social fabric by singling out its matrilineal traditions as emblematic of the kind of grassroots democratic institutions that mirror India’s broader diversity.
Turning to questions of social harmony, he offered his own definition of secularism: a mutual respect for differing beliefs and ways of life. Communities, he said, must coexist with tolerance and goodwill, and no group should be excluded from the benefits of growth.
Connectivity emerged as a central theme of his address. The Vice-President pointed to the scale of rural road-building in the region, noting that more than 46,000 kilometres of roads have been laid across the Northeast over the past ten years under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), backed by spending north of ₹47,000 crore. He additionally welcomed Meghalaya’s participation in the reform-linked Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 framework.
The Vice President laid the foundation stones for five projects worth ₹1,010.95 crore. These include the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase II, Part A (₹850.58 crore) under the Urban Challenge Fund, two road connectivity projects under NESIDS, a 30-bedded AYUSH facility at Shillong Civil Hospital and a 132/33 KV substation at Mawkhanu under PM-DevINE.
He also inaugurated the Maternity and Children’s Hospital at Nongstoin, completed at a cost of ₹31.05 crore under the National Health Mission. He said the projects, together worth about ₹1,042 crore, will strengthen water supply, connectivity, healthcare and power infrastructure in Meghalaya.
The Vice-President commended Meghalaya’s efforts in tourism and infrastructure development, citing the state’s homestay programme, the CM-Elevate initiative, and the Green Meghalaya campaign. He congratulated chief minister Conrad K. Sangma, his cabinet, and the people of the state for their progress.
Linking his remarks to the national goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, Radhakrishnan stressed that growth must be inclusive and reach every section of society, all while safeguarding the state’s environment, culture and heritage. Invoking Meghalaya’s famed living-root bridges and the landscapes of Sohra and Mawsynram, he described the state as an example of how communities can thrive in harmony with nature.
The event was attended by chief minister Conrad K. Sangma, deputy chief ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, minister Sanbor Shullai, chief secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, and other senior dignitaries.
