Tura, October 22: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Integrated Block Development Complex at Gambegre in West Garo Hills, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore, as part of the State Government’s efforts to strengthen rural administration and improve public service delivery.
The inauguration was attended by Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma and Aking Nokma of Gambegre, Chekme Ch. Marak, who joined the Chief Minister in formally opening the new block office. On the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated Chekme Ch. Marak for donating land for the construction of the complex. He also inaugurated a newly constructed digital library and a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM during his visit to Gambegre.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said that, for the first time in Meghalaya’s history, all 56 Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks are being upgraded with improved infrastructure to strengthen administrative efficiency and ensure better delivery of government services. He said the initiative was conceived after he observed inadequate infrastructure in several block offices during his visits across the State.
Emphasising the importance of bringing government services closer to the people, the Chief Minister said the Integrated Block Development Complexes are intended to provide multiple public services under one roof, reducing the need for citizens to visit different government offices. He said the government aims to facilitate services such as the issuance of caste certificates and Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), among others, at the block level through greater use of technology. “We want to bring public services to the block level through the use of technology,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister also announced that a CM Connect Centre would soon be established within the Gambegre Integrated Block Development Complex to provide easier access to government schemes and services, including the registration of public grievances. He said similar centres have already been established in several blocks across Meghalaya as part of the government’s efforts to improve public service delivery. Sangma further urged government officials and employees to discharge their responsibilities with compassion, dedication and sincerity while serving the public.
Highlighting development initiatives undertaken in Gambegre over the past two years, the Chief Minister said several projects had been initiated following concerns and requests raised by MLA Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma. He acknowledged that considerable work remained to be done but reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the developmental needs of the constituency.
The Gambegre Integrated Block Development Complex is among 40 such complexes sanctioned by the State Government during 2022-23. Of these, 34 have been physically completed, while the remaining six are nearing completion, with cumulative physical progress reaching 99.53 per cent. The Garo Hills region accounts for 17 of the 40 sanctioned complexes, the highest among the regions of Meghalaya.
In West Garo Hills, integrated block complexes at Gambegre, Selsella, Rongram, Tikrikilla and Dalu have been completed, while the Dadenggre complex has achieved 99 per cent physical progress. The Tikrikilla complex was inaugurated on April 2, 2025, followed by the Dalu complex on April 17, 2026. Meanwhile, the Demdema Block Office, sanctioned separately during 2021-22, was completed and inaugurated on June 3, 2025. An additional Integrated Block Development Complex has also been sanctioned for the newly created Batabari C&RD Block at an estimated cost of Rs 4.50 crore.
Speaking at the programme, Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma expressed appreciation to the Chief Minister for undertaking the statewide initiative to upgrade block offices. She said block offices serve as an important link between the government and rural communities, particularly in implementing welfare schemes and development projects related to roads, housing, sanitation, livelihoods and employment.
The MLA stressed that strengthening rural administrative infrastructure would help ensure that government services reach people more efficiently. She also noted that bringing block administrations and various line departments under one roof would improve coordination, simplify administrative procedures and enable rural residents to access essential services more conveniently.
The new Integrated Block Development Complex is expected to strengthen grassroots governance and facilitate more effective implementation of rural development programmes in Gambegre and its surrounding areas.
