Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Meghalaya a blueprint for a resilient and self-reliant India after Sitharaman highlighted tourism, youth empowerment and women-led self-help groups in her post.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman toured the state from July 10 to 13, engaging grassroots stakeholders and reviewing central and state projects.
• She pointed to Umiam Lake’s evolution from a 1960s hydropower reservoir into a hub for water sports that generates year-round livelihoods.
• Recent infrastructure works, notably the 2021 Nongjri bridge and a widened Guwahati–Shillong road, have improved connectivity in remote and border regions.
• Flagship initiatives such as the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the Vibrant Village Programme have underpinned rural electrification and inclusive development.