Sitharaman upholds eternal ethos of Khasis

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday upheld the eternal ethos of the Khasi community, which pronounce the basic values of humanity, essential for governance and policy making at all times.
The Finance Minister was speaking after laying foundation stones and inaugurating several transformative projects in the state worth Rs. 1,087.81 crore at an Integrated Public Programme held at the LARITI – International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture.
Sitharaman said that there are five ancient core values of the Khasi community which are relevant and essential for sustainable growth and development across the world.
“Ka tip briew tip blei” (to know man, to know God), “Ka kamai ia ka hok” (to earn righteousness), “Ka bhalang ka imlang” (respect your kinship and the community) and “Mei ramew ryngkew u basa” (reverence for nature,) which Khasi people have given us,” the Finance Minister said.
“These are some core values, which I have taken or I have imbibed, which are essentially. The Khasi people in their local wisdom have given something which is absolutely essential for today’s development, particularly when globally we are talking about sustainable development, in the G20, we spoke about “One Earth, One Family”, we also speak about “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, the entire world is one family.
“You get all this from the western world today. They tell you that every policy, unless it is going to be for the common good, we shall not fund from the World Bank, we shall not fund from so and so… But isn’t that the wisdom of the Khasi people… is it something new for us? Didn’t we know about it?” Sitharaman asked.
Stating that Meghalaya is one of the few states which has fully utilised the entire sanctioned fund under the centre’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) and seeking more, the Finance Sitharaman lauded Meghalaya’s steady growth and bold vision under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Informing that a total of Rs 5,400 crore has been allocated to Meghalaya under Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI), she said, “I am happy that the government has used the amount effectively for capital assets. I will put on record my appreciation of Meghalaya’s efforts- the funds are being fully utilized. Some states are not able to utilize their share in full; here we have Meghalaya, using its quota entirely.”
Highlighting the importance of SASCI, which is an interest-free loan for 50 years, she said the centre allocates funds for capital investment over and above the recommendation of the Finance Commission.
“SASCI assists in building capital assets and reviving the economy because building capital assets generates local employment and benefits core sectors like steel cement etc. So, it has a spillover effect,” she said.
“In the past few years, Meghalaya has completed 91 centrally-sponsored projects worth Rs. 1239 crore and 35 projects worth over Rs. 1000 crore are ongoing, “ Sitharaman said.
In a significant boost to Meghalaya’s organic farming sector, Smt. Sitharaman flagged off a 2-metric-tonne consignment of premium organic pineapples to LULU Retail, Dubai, under the IFAD-supported Megha-LAMP initiative. Sourced from farmers of the Jirang Organics Farmer Producer Company in Ri-Bhoi, this consignment underscores Meghalaya’s emergence as a key player in the global horticultural value chain.