GUWAHATI, Jan 10: The North Eastern Council (NEC) disbursed Rs 76.78 crore across Northeastern states and regional agencies in December 2025, with a focus on infrastructure development, livelihoods, culture, research, and innovation, according to an official statement.
Meghalaya received Rs 13.45 crore for a range of development initiatives, including tourism infrastructure at Laitlyngkot (Lamlyer) in East Khasi Hills, the Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban Cultural Complex at Lum Shat Sngi, Kenches Trace in Shillong, and construction of an RCC G+4 commercial building at Iewdak Laban Municipal Market to promote agricultural, horticultural, handicraft, piggery, and floriculture products.
Additional allocations supported the construction of school buildings at RKM School in Laidiengsai, Mawrah, Laitryngew, Wahlong, Pynursla, Pomsohmen, and Nongkynrih. Urban infrastructure projects included pipeline realignments, utility ducts, construction of public toilets at five locations, waste management systems, lighting, painting, beautification works, and replacement of supply lines along the Iewduh market approach road.
Under the NESIDS (Roads) scheme, NEC sanctioned Rs 3 crore for improvement of key road stretches in Meghalaya, including the Shillong–Umroi Airport road, enhancing connectivity for nearly 10 villages and benefiting around 7,300 residents.
The NEC also disbursed Rs 26.47 crore to regional agencies for livelihood and development projects such as kiwi orchards, education sponsorships for 91 boarders and 622 day scholars, banana tissue culture, GI registration of 166 crops, pig breeding units, medicinal plant-based livelihoods, high-tech nurseries, smoked meat units, and integrated agriculture ventures in fisheries and piggery.
Research and innovation initiatives supported during the period included 5G use-cases addressing societal challenges and a socio-ecological analysis of Sone Beel. Non-project activities covered youth cultural exchanges, festivals, handloom fairs, women empowerment programmes, sports events, AI-driven digital transformation training, and studies on governance, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
These initiatives were implemented through regional institutions and agencies such as NERCRMS, NEDFi, NEHHDC, NERAMAC, USTM, Assam University, Mizoram University, and other affiliated societies.
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, the NEC completed a Rs 1.43 crore Model Handloom Production Centre at Marngar, aimed at strengthening traditional weaving skills, particularly among women, and enhancing market competitiveness of local handloom products.
