The Northeastern Council (NEC) has significantly expanded its developmental footprint in Meghalaya during the 15th Finance Commission (FC) period, with cumulative expenditure reaching Rs 555.63 crore under the Schemes of NEC (SONEC) and NESIDS Roads programmes.
The investments span education, urban infrastructure, entrepreneurship, tribal livelihoods, connectivity, and sports infrastructure, reaffirming its commitment towards inclusive and sustainable growth in the state, according to an NEC statement.
Of the total outlay, Meghalaya recorded an expenditure of Rs 160.87 crore under SONEC alone during the 15th FC cycle. The interventions covered “development of community infrastructure, school buildings, markets, bridges, tourism facilities, healthcare support, and entrepreneurship development initiatives.” A key thrust was on agriculture and allied sectors.
“Special emphasis was laid on agriculture and allied sectors through promotion of honey production, mushroom cultivation, Lakadong turmeric processing, livestock development, organic farming, and integrated farming systems,” the statement noted.