Adokgre, July 4: In a historic event for Meghalaya and a big step towards bolstering grassroots democracy and increase citizen engagement in governance, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the first-ever Block Level Community Interaction Program under ‘CM-Connect’ at Adokgre Block in North Garo Hills on Thursday.
The CM-Connect Public Forum is an innovative initiative of the government to reach out to the people at the grassroots level, listen to their concerns, and provide immediate relief and solutions. The program is designed to bridge the gap between the government and the citizens, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and their grievances are addressed.
During the launch, the Chief Minister patiently heard the complaints and concerns of the people, which ranged from ongoing construction of bridges and roads to delays in completion of works, disbursement of loan components by banks, and slow progress of ongoing works. The Chief Minister also gave officers from the state, district, and block levels the opportunity to clarify and provide factual information on the issues raised.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma highlighted on the importance of citizen participation in governance. “My government is committed to making delivery of services to the people. We want to serve the people and make them part of the governance process. Deficiency in the implementation of schemes will be addressed, and we will ensure that the people’s voices are heard,” he said.
The Chief Minister announced that similar programs will be held across all 56 blocks of the state, providing a platform for citizens to submit their petitions and raise concerns on the delivery of schemes and implementation of government programs.
The program was attended by several MLAs, including Rupert Momin, Pongseng Marak, Sanjay Sangma, and Ian Botham K. Sangma, as well as various other public representatives.
The CM-Connect Public Forum is a significant step towards empowering citizens and ensuring that the government is accountable to the people. With this initiative, the government of Meghalaya is demonstrating its commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance.
In response to a complaint about the delayed construction of a new building for the Adokgre C&RD block, the Chief Minister explained that he had initially planned to lay the foundation stone for the project during his visit to Adokgre. However, due to the pending finalization of the land acquisition process, the foundation laying ceremony could not take place as scheduled. The Chief Minister directed the administration to expedite the land acquisition process and finalize the land by July, ensuring that the foundation stone will be laid soon, and he will personally attend the ceremony to mark the commencement of the project.
During the public forum, a query was raised regarding the construction of a bridge on the Adokgre-Mangsang stretch, which connects North Garo Hills to East Garo Hills. The Chief Minister directed the concerned officer to address the public’s concern, which was promptly responded to by the PWD Engineer. The Chief Minister himself provided additional clarification and assured the public that he would take up the matter on a priority basis to resolve the issue urgently.
The public also submitted a petition to the Chief Minister, requesting improvements and upgradation of the Chenanggre Stadium in Adokgre, including the construction of a multi-facility center.
