Shillong, May 14, 2026: The Shillong Municipal Board on Thursday launched a new locality grading initiative aimed at promoting cleanliness, waste management and environmental responsibility across neighbourhoods in the city, with top-performing localities set to receive cash incentives of up to Rs. 12 lakh under the PM Upliftment of Urban Bodies programme.
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| A view of a locality in Shillong city as the Meghalaya government launches a new grading initiative to promote cleanliness, civic participation and environmental responsibility across neighbourhoods. |
The initiative was launched during the CM Connect – Public Consultative Meet held at U Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong, attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, government officials, community leaders, artists and residents from different parts of the city.
Under the grading programme, localities will be evaluated based on parameters such as cleanliness, waste segregation, civic participation and environmental practices. The best-performing locality will receive Rs. 12 lakh, followed by Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh for the second and third rankings respectively. Additional awards will also be given to localities for active civic engagement and environmental initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the CM Connect programme was created as a listening platform to strengthen communication between citizens and the government.
“A true democracy can only function when the government remains connected to its citizens,” he said, adding that public feedback should continuously guide governance and policy decisions.
The Chief Minister explained that CM Connect is backed by a centralised grievance redressal system integrated with the 1971 call centre, where public complaints are logged, monitored and escalated if delayed. He added that the initiative would eventually be integrated with MLA Connect and DC Connect to improve accountability and service delivery at the grassroots level.
Sangma also acknowledged challenges related to waste management, roads and civic infrastructure, while urging citizens to work collaboratively with the government for long-term improvements.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar highlighted the importance of public participation, especially among youth, in making the programme successful. He reiterated the government’s focus on people-centric governance, inclusive urban development and youth empowerment.
During the programme, the government also launched the Chief Minister’s Artist Engagement Scheme to promote murals and street art across Meghalaya. Selected local artists were provided mobilisation advance cheques of Rs. 20,000 each.
An interactive session was later held where residents raised issues related to water supply, drainage, street lighting, CCTV coverage, road maintenance and electricity disruptions. Officials from various departments responded by outlining ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives across the state.
