CM Special Development Fund driving small projects with big impact: Sangma

CM says original music, a 50,000-capacity performance arena, music institute in Tura and film city in Shillong will help transform Meghalaya into a creative economy hub.

TURA, July 29: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday announced that the state’s “Achiever of the Month” initiative will be expanded beyond entrepreneurship to recognise outstanding performers across sectors, beginning with music.

Glad to present the Achiever of the Month award in Music to Chegim Durama from Tura.

Chegim is a gifted singer-songwriter whose heartfelt lyrics and soulful music have captivated audiences across Garo Hills. As a beneficiary of the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music… pic.twitter.com/Nhxonln2xz

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 29, 2026

Speaking at the felicitation of the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP) ‘Achiever of the Month’ in Tura, Sangma said that every month the government would identify and honour achievers from different fields, such as music, sports, and other sectors, to encourage excellence.

“We started this initiative in 2018 to promote entrepreneurship. Now we will extend it to other sectors as well. Every month we will select a department and recognise an achiever at the Chief Minister’s level. This month is for music, next month for sports,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the recognition was aimed not merely at celebrating individuals but at promoting entire sectors and inspiring others. He cited recent examples of entrepreneurs from Meghalaya who developed health and fitness equipment and another who built a ₹60 lakh recycling business, saying such success stories demonstrated the state’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Calling music an integral part of Meghalaya’s identity, Sangma said the state was globally known for its musical talent, but institutional support had lagged behind.

“Today, MGMP supports thousands of artists. Though this is not enough, we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

Outlining the government’s long-term vision for the sector, Sangma urged musicians to create more original compositions instead of relying on covers.

“Your originals will give you identity. We need to create music that can be shared on a global stage,” he said, adding that major festivals such as the Cherry Blossom Festival would earmark dedicated slots for original performances by local artists.

The Chief Minister also announced a series of infrastructure projects designed to position Meghalaya as a creative hub, including a 40,000- to 50,000-capacity performance arena at the upcoming Knowledge City in Mawkynrew, near Shillong; a music institute in Tura; a music-themed hotel featuring daily live performances; and a film city and film institute in Shillong.

He stressed that building the music industry required more than talented performers.

“Musicians are musicians. We need entrepreneurs and professionals to run studios, manage bands and build the business side,” he said, pointing to the lack of world-class recording studios in the Northeast as a major investment opportunity.

The government, he added, would also promote music education, including music theory, notation and scientific understanding of music, to help artists compete globally.

Later, Sangma interacted with musicians from across Meghalaya, listening to their concerns and suggestions as part of efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable music ecosystem.

The event also highlighted the upcoming CM-MGMP Season 4, which is expected to place greater emphasis on original music, artist training, transparent artist management, national and international exposure, dedicated digital platforms and improved documentation, while continuing to provide paid performance opportunities for local musicians.

This month’s CM-MGMP Achiever of the Month award went to Chegim Durama, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Tura.

Durama, who began experimenting with music production at the age of 13 and released his debut single Aman A•song at 21, said the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme had been a turning point in his career.

“The financial support allowed me to record new music, invest in music production equipment and continue creating without giving up on my dream. It gave me hope and reminded me that music matters and deserves to be heard,” he said.