Shillong, May 14: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said governance must remain “continuously connected” to citizens as he chaired the CM Connect – Public Consultative Meet in Shillong, positioning the initiative as a key platform for public grievance redressal and policy feedback.
The programme, organised by the Department of Urban Affairs in collaboration with the Shillong Municipal Board at U Soso Tham Auditorium, brought together government officials, urban local body representatives, community leaders, artists and citizens from across the city.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma described CM Connect as “more than a programme,” calling it an evolving governance mechanism designed to ensure regular engagement between the government and citizens. He said democratic governance can function effectively only when governments remain responsive to public feedback and willing to revisit decisions when necessary.
“A true democracy can only function when the government remains connected to its citizens,” the Chief Minister said, stressing that governance requires humility, openness to correction and continuous dialogue.
Highlighting growing urban concerns in Shillong, including waste management, roads and civic infrastructure, Sangma urged citizens to move beyond criticism and contribute constructively towards solutions. He also underlined the need for better coordination among departments to improve service delivery and reduce delays in civic works.
The Chief Minister said CM Connect operates through a centralised grievance redressal mechanism integrated with a 1971 call centre platform, where complaints are recorded, assigned to departments and tracked through monitoring dashboards. According to him, the system has also served as an emergency response mechanism during critical situations.
He further announced plans to integrate the platform with initiatives such as MLA Connect and DC Connect to create a more structured citizen engagement framework at multiple administrative levels.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the success of CM Connect reflected strong public participation, particularly from youth, and collaboration between government agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders.
He said the government was focusing on inclusive urban development, connectivity and youth empowerment, adding that Meghalaya aimed to build cleaner and better-planned towns while creating opportunities for young people to become job creators.
During the programme, the government formally launched the Chief Minister’s Artist Engagement Scheme, aimed at promoting public art through murals and street art projects across the state. Selected artists received mobilisation advance cheques of ₹20,000 each.
A new locality grading initiative was also introduced by the Shillong Municipal Board under the PM Upliftment of Urban Bodies programme to assess neighbourhoods on cleanliness, waste management and environmental practices.
Top-performing localities were awarded cash prizes, including ₹12 lakh for the highest-ranked locality.
The interactive session saw residents raise issues related to water supply, drainage, street lighting, road conditions, CCTV coverage and electricity disruptions. Officials from departments including PHE, Power, PWD and Urban Affairs responded to queries and outlined ongoing infrastructure upgrades and phased implementation plans.
The discussions also touched upon preparations linked to upcoming national sporting events, including the National Games of India, with the Chief Minister highlighting proposed sports infrastructure projects in Shillong, Tura and Jowai aimed at strengthening long-term youth and sports development in the state.
