Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday underscored the importance of continuous administrative reforms, saying that effective governance is built not only through major policy initiatives but also through consistent improvements in systems, processes and public service delivery. He was addressing the National Conference on “NextGen Administrative & e-Gov Reforms” in Shillong, where Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was present at the inaugural session.
Welcoming the Union Minister to Meghalaya, Sangma said meaningful administrative transformation begins with a willingness to embrace change at every level of governance. He noted that while large-scale reforms remain important, lasting improvements are often driven by small but consistent changes in everyday administrative practices and institutional thinking.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s governance initiatives, the Chief Minister cited programmes such as CM Connect, Cabinet Retreat, and citizen feedback mechanisms as examples of the state’s efforts to build a governance model that is responsive, transparent and accountable. He said these initiatives have demonstrated that public administration delivers better outcomes when it places citizens at the centre of decision-making, leverages technology and encourages collaboration across departments.
Sangma also stressed that governments should evaluate their performance by the positive impact they create in the lives of people rather than by the number of schemes they implement. He called upon public servants to simplify administrative procedures, remove bottlenecks and remain attentive to public concerns in order to improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery.
The two-day conference, organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya, has brought together policymakers, senior government officials, district collectors, governance experts and technologists from across the country to deliberate on the future of public administration, digital governance and citizen-centric service delivery. More than 300 delegates are participating in the event.
The conference will feature discussions on award-winning governance initiatives, digital transformation, cybersecurity, public service delivery and innovative administrative practices, while providing a platform for states to exchange best practices aimed at making governance more efficient, transparent and technology-driven.
