Shillong, May 30: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday visited Smit village and interacted with residents, tourists and local entrepreneurs as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen tourism-led livelihoods and community participation across Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister went live on his official Facebook page from Smit, a village known for its cultural heritage and tourism potential, highlighting the state’s vision of linking tourism, entrepreneurship, skills development and grassroots economic growth.
During the visit, Sangma interacted with local residents and business owners, including the proprietor of an RC Homestay. He later visited the homestay and discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs operating in the tourism sector.
Residents also raised civic concerns related to garbage collection, street lighting and littering in the area. The Chief Minister assured them that the relevant departments would be informed and appropriate action would be taken.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma stressed the importance of direct engagement with communities.
“There is a need to connect with people at the grassroots level. A public representative cannot truly understand the lives and concerns of the people without staying close to the community,” he said.
The homestay owner thanked the government for support received through various schemes and explained how financial assistance had helped the family establish and expand the business.
Highlighting the importance of community-based tourism, Sangma said homestays remain a crucial component of Meghalaya’s tourism strategy.
“Homestays are a very important and critical part of our tourism sector. Through homestays, we ensure that the benefits of tourism directly reach local families and communities,” he said.
The Chief Minister informed that Meghalaya currently has nearly 900 operational homestays, while another 2,100 are expected to be sanctioned soon. The government aims to establish a network of around 3,000 homestays across the state within the next 12 to 18 months.
He noted that tourist arrivals have increased significantly in recent years, helping Meghalaya emerge as one of India’s preferred travel destinations.
Sangma also highlighted the role of the Skills Meghalaya programme, which has already benefited nearly 30,000 youths through various training initiatives. Around 2,000 youths have received specialised training in tourism and hospitality, while the government aims to train 1.2 lakh youths overall, including 5,000 specifically for tourism-related skills.
He further highlighted support provided through the PRIME and CM Elevate schemes, under which around 200 vehicles have been financed to create transport-related livelihood opportunities. In addition, 52 students have received financial assistance to pursue hospitality education at institutions such as the Indian Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM).
Referring to Meghalaya’s signing of the Host State Agreement for the 39th National Games 2027 earlier in the day, Sangma said the event would generate significant opportunities beyond sports.
“The National Games are not just a sporting event. They create opportunities for tourism, culture, hospitality and economic growth. A significant portion of the accommodation requirements for the Games will be met through our homestay network,” he said.
The interaction formed part of the CM Connect initiative, which seeks to strengthen communication between citizens and the government through direct outreach and digital engagement, promoting transparent and participatory governance across the state.
