Shillong, March 6: Newly-installed Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma Tuesday promised that his government would fulfil all the election promises and also focus on the youth and poor of the state.
"As this mandate comes with huge expectations, I, on behalf of my colleagues, make this solemn pledge that it will be our sincere and committed endeavour with utmost sense of dedication to implement all those that we have promised in our manifesto," Sangma told journalists at a press conference here.
The Congress manifesto, titled "Meghalaya 2013-18 -- The Way Forward," promised that one lakh houses would be built for the needy if it comes to power and it would also create over one lakh jobs opportunities for the youth in the next five years.
"Our focus will be to ensure sustained and inclusive growth by addressing the issues of backwardness and poverty by implementing people-centric schemes and partnership building, entrepreneurship development, upscaling our investment in social sectors and by leveraging upon our vast human and natural resources," Sangma said.
"Economic growth is the key for creation of mass-scale opportunities which can be harnessed by our people. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to integrate and harness synergy with the rest of the economies and maximize our growth potential."
He said one of his top priorities will be "to ensure an environment for women which is safe and supportive for them to actualize their dreams and their aspirations".
He said the old and needy, children, small and marginal farmers and workers would all get the government's special attention.
Dwelling upon the party's manifesto, he reiterated that a Public Service Delivery Act would be enacted and would combine the Act "with a new law for social audits".
"Such social audit should be concurrent and not something which functions only as a post mortem. While greater transparency is one safeguard against corruption, I can assure you that we will not be found wanting in taking punitive action against offenders at all levels," Sangma stated.
The chief minister, however, warned that development cannot take place without peace and harmony.
Sangma was sworn in the 21st chief minister of Meghalaya earlier Tuesday. It is his second term.
