Conrad K Sangma on February 23 informed the Assembly that Meghalaya has generated an estimated 3.66 lakh jobs between 2019 and 2025, with agriculture accounting for the largest share of employment. Replying to the debate on the Governor’s Address, the chief minister said agriculture alone contributed 1.90 lakh jobs, driven by targeted interventions such as floriculture (789 jobs), mushroom cultivation (4,078), fruit development (12,714), organic farming (47,927) and the Lakadong mission (15,333). He said the benefits were spread across districts, citing organic farming employment in West Garo Hills (5,279), Ri-Bhoi (4,301) and East Khasi Hills (4,728).
Beyond agriculture, Sangma stated that the hospitality sector added 12,683 jobs, transport generated 9,835, and manufacturing and recycling accounted for 24,926 jobs. The figures, he said, are based on a KLEMS-based employment assessment prepared using the methodology of the Reserve Bank of India. The KLEMS framework evaluates labour input alongside capital, energy, materials and services to measure productivity and economic growth trends at the industry level.
Flagship state schemes have also widened livelihood avenues. Around 10,000 individuals were supported under YES Meghalaya, 11,050 under Aqua Mission, nearly 1.7 lakh under CM-CARE and 9,000 under PRIME, with Sangma claiming that close to eight lakh beneficiaries have been reached overall. “It is difficult to satisfy everybody, but we are trying,” he said.