SHILLONG : NPP’s Shillong Lok Sabha byelection candidate Dr DRL Nonglait on Friday said the development of border villages, education reforms and job creation would be among his key priorities if elected to Parliament.
Addressing a campaign gathering at Patharkhmah, Dr Nonglait said communities living along the Meghalaya-Assam border have remained neglected for years and deserve access to the same basic facilities available in other parts of the state.
“Border villages need electricity, proper roads and good schools. Our people there should get the same benefits as those in Patharkhmah, Maïrang and other areas in Ri Khasi,” he told the gathering.
Dr Nonglait attributed the dependence of some border residents on Assam to what he described as past inaction by the state government, saying the situation had contributed to concerns over land loss.
With Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun and Nongpoh MLA Charles Marngar present, he said the region faces several shared challenges that require urgent attention.
“We have to bring development and prosperity so that people in the border feel they are part of Meghalaya, that they are Khasi and Pnar and have not been left out,” he said.
“Once elected, I will personally visit these areas in the coming months. Border development will be at the top of my agenda,” he added.
Dr Nonglait Calls for Education Reforms
The NPP candidate also highlighted the condition of Secondary and Higher Secondary schools in Jirang and other parts of Ri Khasi, saying several institutions have been waiting for government support for more than two decades despite being recognised.
He said he has submitted a proposal to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, seeking salary grants for teachers in Secondary schools on the lines of existing support provided to LP and UP schools.
“Education is still in disarray. We need a clear policy and we need people’s cooperation to fix it,” he said.
Focus on Food Processing and Local Industries
Dr Nonglait said Meghalaya needs to establish more food processing units so that local farmers can process fruits and other agricultural produce into marketable products instead of depending heavily on imports.
He also highlighted the absence of a local shoe manufacturing industry and said more attention should be given to developing local industries and creating employment opportunities.
The NPP candidate welcomed the state government’s plan to construct Market Complexes in Patharkhmah and Jirang, saying the projects could help boost local trade and economic activity.
Amkyrbai Lake and Tourism Potential
On tourism, Dr Nonglait identified Amkyrbai Lake near Jirang as a potential tourist attraction and urged the government to invest in its development.
He also pointed to the heavy movement of vehicles from Assam through Ri Bhoi towards other hill districts, saying the region could benefit economically by tapping into the flow of visitors and travellers.
“We have beautiful places but we haven’t developed them. Amkyrbai Lake can become a major tourist spot if we invest in it,” he said.
Says MP Aligned With State Government Can Push Central Projects
Dr Nonglait argued that having an MP aligned with the state government would make it easier to pursue central projects and schemes for Meghalaya.
“An MP from the ruling side doesn’t have to run from door to door. People can bring their problems directly and we can resolve them through dialogue. Work will go on smoothly,” he said.
He also appealed to voters to support a candidate who can work with the state government to pursue issues such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, describing them as common causes that cut across political parties.
“I am not contesting just for one party. I am contesting for every voter in the Shillong constituency,” he said, urging voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.