State economy Taskforce constituted in Meghalaya
State economy Taskforce constituted in Meghalaya

Meghalaya government constituted CM’s Taskforce on state economy for post-COVID-19

Guwahati, May 6: Meghalaya government has constituted the Chief Minister’s Taskforce to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the state economy post-COVID-19.

The Taskforce will formulate clear, sector-specific strategies for tackling economic disruptions due to COVID-19 in the state.

The Task Force will also identify new opportunities and fundamental sectoral reforms (including extensive use of technology) to promote growth and lay out a clear economic road map for the state for the immediate period post-COVID-19 (2020-21) as well as the medium-term (2021-25).

The Task Force consists of Apex Committee, Executive Committee and Working Groups and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is the chairman of the Apex Committee and Executive Committee.

Conrad Sangma on Task force

Conrad Sangma on economy Task force

In a notification issued by Meghalaya Chief Secretary MS Rao stated that, the members of the Apex Committee include Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, 10 cabinet ministers, Chief Secretary and Commissioner, and Secretary of state Finance department.

On the other hand, the members of the Executive Committee include the Deputy CM, Commerce minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Agriculture minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, the Chief Secretary, Secretary of North Eastern Council K. Moses Chalai, Chairman of Farmer’s Commission K.N Kumar, Former UPSC Chairman David R Syiemlieh, Professor Stefan Dercon, IIM Chairman Shishir Bajoria, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Finance & Planning Department and other expert members.

The Working Groups for Finance Department, Education, PHE, Urban Affairs, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Health and Family Welfare, Commerce and Industries, and Tourism Department will be headed by Senior Government Officials.

The government notification also stated that to support the various Working Groups, the Planning department will also set up a Data Management Unit with support from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of Meghalaya and the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi.

Various Working Groups will submit their presentations before the Executive Committee from May 11.

Meghalaya has reported 12 positive cases for COVID-19 and the first patient died at the hospital.