Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma mounted a strong rebuttal against claims of opacity in the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund during Tuesday’s assembly proceedings. The scheme, he argued, embodies public welfare and has extended its reach to the state’s farthest reaches.
While fielding a cut motion in the budget session, Sangma validated MLAs’ inputs yet reaffirmed the fund’s transparent, non-partisan framework. Allocations bypass politics, prioritizing essential projects vetted on need alone.
Drawing from CM Connect engagements, he noted, ‘Political loyalty isn’t a criterion for approvals.’ Beneficiaries from diverse backgrounds testify to its impartiality, with visible transformations in communities statewide.
Sangma appealed to the house: don’t doubt this honest effort. Each MLA holds rights to propose Rs 10 lakh worth of projects yearly, optionally. Addressing Mawlai MLA Bright Star Wel Marbaniang directly, he committed to reviewing highlighted issues.
Past procedural hurdles—like urban-rural splits—have been ironed out for efficiency. The 2025-26 Rs 50 crore allocation is fully deployed: key recipients include West Garo Hills (Rs 13.6 crore), East Khasi Hills (Rs 12.88 crore), Southwest Garo Hills (Rs 5.1 crore), Ri Bhoi (Rs 3.9 crore), East Garo Hills (Rs 3.76 crore), North Garo Hills (Rs 3.5 crore), East Jaintia Hills (Rs 2.1 crore), West Khasi Hills (Rs 1.94 crore), and East West Khasi Hills (Rs 1.52 crore).
Broadly open to legislators, local bodies, NGOs, and individuals through the CM office, the fund drives equitable growth, silencing critics with comprehensive coverage and accountability.