Shillong(Meghalaya), June 18 :Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman begins a two-day Meghalaya visit on June 19, launching key projects that back the state’s reputation as a top performer in capital spending.
Meghalaya fully utilized its ₹5,400 crore SASCI allocation, a feat Sitharaman earlier called a model of effective development.
On June 19, she will inaugurate the Northeast’s largest Organic Spice Processing Plant at Bhoirymbong, Ri Bhoi. The facility can process 10,346 MT of turmeric, black pepper and other spices yearly, benefiting 5,500 organic farmers.
Envisioned under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the plant’s foundation was laid in August 2024. MoUs with private firms will be signed the same day to ensure market linkages.
Sitharaman will then attend the “Leveraging Externally Aided Projects in the North-Eastern States” conference in Shillong, hosted by Meghalaya and the Department of Economic Affairs.
At U Soso Tham Auditorium, she and Chief Minister Sangma will lay foundation stones for four projects worth over ₹1,200 crore. The projects cover logistics, ecotourism, agri-based livelihoods, and human capital development. A Coffee Table Book on Meghalaya’s EAP journey will also be released.
On June 20, she heads to West Jaintia Hills. She will interact with students at Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai, and inaugurate the NDB-funded Jowai–Nartiang–Kdiap–Khanduli Road at Wahiajer Football Stadium.
She will visit Shree Maa Jayantee Temple and the Nartiang Monolith Heritage Site, home to the state’s largest cluster of monoliths. Meetings are lined up with farmers and artisans of GI-tagged products.
The tour ends with an interaction with Black Clay Pottery artisans of Larnai village, highlighting efforts to link heritage with livelihood through branding and market access.
The visit signals strong Centre-state partnership under Chief Minister Sangma, pushing inclusive and sustainable growth in Meghalaya.
