VPP Slams Meghalaya Govt Over Rising Debt, High Living Costs and Neglected Education Sector

Shillong: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has expressed serious alarm over the Meghalaya government's escalating borrowings and the soaring cost of living, accusing it of policy failures that are disproportionately burdening ordinary citizens.

VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh highlighted that increasing government loans are diverting funds away from essential welfare programmes enshrined in Chapter IV of the Indian Constitution. He alleged that while such borrowings often benefit those in power and contractors through alleged corruption, the repayment burden ultimately falls on even the poorest sections of society.

Myrboh drew stark comparisons with other Northeastern states to underscore the deficiencies in Meghalaya's higher education infrastructure. Citing the 2011 Census, he noted that Meghalaya has a population of approximately 29 lakh , significantly larger than Sikkim's (under 7 lakh) and Mizoram's (around 10 lakh). Yet, the state has fewer than 10 government colleges , compared to 10 in Sikkim and 14 in Mizoram .

He argued that if Sikkim and Mizoram had Meghalaya's population size, they would have around 40 and 42 government colleges respectively, based on proportional scaling. Myrboh further pointed out that despite Meghalaya's lower per capita income compared to these neighbours, education costs for Meghalaya's youth remain substantially higher, reflecting deep-rooted structural problems in the state's education system.

The VPP leader described a striking "paradox of Meghalaya", low per capita income coupled with an unusually high cost of living. He identified escalating expenses in healthcare and education as major drivers of this crisis, questioning how common people can sustain themselves under such pressures.

The party emphasised that without urgent reforms, including bolstering public education, enhancing healthcare accessibility, and adopting responsible fiscal management, the hardships faced by ordinary citizens will only intensify.

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