Radhakrishnan on Monday laid the foundation stones for five projects worth INR 1,010.95 crore in Meghalaya and inaugurated a maternity and children’s hospital, asserting that development must reach every village and section of society to realise the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
SHILLONG — Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday laid the foundation stones for five projects worth INR 1,010.95 crore in Meghalaya and inaugurated a maternity and children’s hospital, asserting that development must reach every village and section of society to realise the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
Addressing a public reception organised in his honour at the Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong, Radhakrishnan said every state, village and citizen must become ‘Viksit’ for the country to achieve the broader development goal by 2047.
The projects for which the foundation stones were laid include the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase II, Part A, estimated at INR 850.58 crore, two road connectivity projects under NESIDS, a 30-bedded AYUSH facility at Shillong Civil Hospital and a 132/33 KV substation at Mawkhanu under PM-DevINE.
He also inaugurated the Maternity and Children’s Hospital at Nongstoin, constructed at a cost of INR 31.05 crore under the National Health Mission.
Radhakrishnan said the projects, together worth around INR 1,042 crore, would strengthen Meghalaya’s water supply, road connectivity, healthcare and power infrastructure.
Highlighting the importance of connectivity for development, the Vice-President said efforts were being made to connect remote villages with towns and cities. He noted that more than 46,000 km of rural roads had been constructed in the Northeast under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) over the past decade, with expenditure exceeding INR 47,000 crore.
Radhakrishnan also appreciated Meghalaya’s reform-linked memorandum of understanding under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. He highlighted Meghalaya’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and matrilineal traditions, saying its grassroots institutions reflected India’s diversity and democratic traditions.
Recalling his former Lok Sabha colleague and former Speaker P. A. Sangma, the Vice-President described him as a great leader and outstanding parliamentarian who made a significant contribution to parliamentary democracy. He stressed the importance of mutual respect and harmony, saying true secularism means respecting each other’s thoughts and beliefs.
Radhakrishnan also praised Meghalaya’s initiatives in infrastructure and tourism, including the homestay programme, CM-Elevate and Green Meghalaya. He urged the state to pursue development while protecting its environment, culture and traditions, citing Meghalaya’s living-root bridges and the landscapes of Sohra and Mawsynram as examples of harmony with nature.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, Minister Sanbor Shullai, Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed and other dignitaries attended the event.