Meghalaya will get Rs 2, 727 crore for annual plan of the year 2011-12. However, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Ahluwalia said that Meghalaya Government should take policy initiatives that encourage private investment in both social and physical infrastructure. He also suggested that growth in horticulture and floriculture should be upgraded so as to improve revenue resource for the state.

However, being a strong supporter of bio-technology, Mr Ahluwalia did not miss the opportunity to ask the state to explore the scope of promoting bio-technology programme especially for economically important biological resources. While commending setting up of bio-resources development centers, he stressed on the need to move forward with a detailed action plan for strengthening bio-technology by bringing together scientists from various fields.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma though said that priority would always be poverty eradication. He also mentioned about the work opportunities to be generated soon for as much as 1.5 lakh people in the state, with focus on rural areas. A number of livelihood programmes have been introduced. Livelihood mission has been launched with an integrated approach to the fish farming along with animal husbandry.

Chief Minister mentioned about the efforts being made to improve fiscal health and also addressed to the number of initiatives that have been taken to improve resources. Resource mobilization plan, that encompass streamlining of tax collection, increasing VAT and introduction of electricity duty was mentioned by him.

Due to rugged topography, north east states have need extra resources to serve the scattered population, and Meghalaya has made satisfactory progress in literacy, agriculture, horticulture and road connectivity, added the Chief Minister.