Northeast Desk, 9th August: During the CM-Connect program held on August 8, a resident of Umsaliat village in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district expressed frustration over the state of local roads, which have remained incomplete for two decades. Despite repeated promises from politicians, the road connecting Umsaliat to Iooksi, covering approximately 2.5 km, has yet to be constructed.
The woman, speaking on behalf of around 40 local residents, also highlighted broader concerns including inadequate educational infrastructure, poor healthcare facilities, and issues with the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). She criticized the lack of progress on various promises made during election campaigns.
In response, Minister Commingone Ymbon assured that the road construction is now sanctioned and will commence soon. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma addressed the crowd, pledging improvements in school infrastructure and the upgrading of primary health centers to community health centers under a health infrastructure strengthening project.
CM Sangma emphasized the role of the CM-Connect program in identifying and addressing public needs. He revealed that approximately 1,600 villages in Meghalaya lack adequate road connectivity, prompting the introduction of the Chief Minister’s Rural Road Connectivity Scheme. This initiative aims to address roads that do not qualify for funding under existing national or state schemes.
Additionally, residents raised requests for better infrastructure, including football grounds, police outposts in border areas, transformer installations, village organization office space, SSLC examination centers, banking services, suspension bridges, and promotion of ecotourism and farmer market complexes.
The CM-Connect program continues to serve as a vital platform for addressing local concerns and formulating targeted responses to improve rural infrastructure and services in Meghalaya.