A rare and interesting exchange between husband and wife legislators inside the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has gone viral on social media, drawing attention to a lively policy discussion between Conrad K Sangma and Mehtab Chandee A Sangma.
The discussion took place during a recent Assembly session in Shillong, where Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, a legislator from the Gambegre constituency representing the National People's Party, questioned the government regarding delays in several proposed livestock education projects in the state.
Raising the issue in the House, the MLA sought clarification on the progress of a veterinary college, two fisheries colleges and a dairy college that were first approved by the state cabinet in 2022. She also highlighted the shortage of trained personnel in veterinary training centres across Meghalaya, stressing that the lack of manpower was affecting the sector’s development.
The questions prompted a detailed response from Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who assured the Assembly that the government was committed to strengthening the livestock sector and would work to accelerate the projects.
“These institutions were proposed keeping in mind the urgent need to support the livestock sector, which a large portion of the state’s population depends on,” the chief minister said during the session.
Responding to concerns about staffing shortages, he acknowledged that manpower gaps in veterinary training institutions were a matter of concern for the government. Sangma added that steps were being taken to fill vacant posts as quickly as possible and that recruitment would be treated as a priority.
The chief minister also addressed delays in preparing detailed project reports (DPRs), explaining that identifying suitable land and planning infrastructure requirements had taken longer than expected.
According to him, around 800 acres of land have already been identified at Kyrdemkulai for the proposed veterinary college. The project is estimated to cost around ₹334 crore and is expected to house 19 academic departments once completed.
He noted that the scale of the financial investment required for the institution was significant, but assured legislators that the government would take necessary steps to move the project forward.
The debate quickly attracted public attention online as it featured a constructive policy discussion between a husband and wife who both serve as elected representatives in the same Assembly. Observers described the exchange as a rare example of democratic debate within a political family during legislative proceedings.
