Webinar Link

Meeting No: 2524 317 0194
Password: meghalaya

Certificate of Participants

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Abstract

Meghalaya’s economy has maintained steady momentum in recent years, overcoming geographical constraints and the dominance of an agrarian base. The state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current prices was recorded at ₹42,697 crore in 2022–23, rising to ₹53,057 crore in 2023–24. Projections for 2025–26 place the GSDP at ₹66,645 crore, reflecting an estimated growth of 13% over 2024–25. This translates into an annualized growth rate of nearly 12.7% between 2023 and 2026, positioning Meghalaya among the top 10 fastest-growing states in India. With the economy expected to cross the \$10 billion mark by 2028, the state demonstrates strong medium-term potential. While the primary sector remains the backbone of the economy, tourism contributes almost 7% to the state’s GDP, underlining its importance as a key growth driver. However, Meghalaya’s development trajectory is not without obstacles. Inter-community clashes and recurring social tensions, alongside infrastructural gaps and fiscal pressures, continue to act as impediments to sustainable growth. Addressing these challenges will be critical to ensuring inclusive development and economic resilience. The panelists in this webinar will discuss these opportunities and challenges, focusing on strategies to sustain Meghalaya’s high growth while promoting social harmony, investment, and diversification across key sectors.

About the Speakers

Bhagirathi Panda

Professor Bhagirathi Panda currently works as a Professor of Economics, North Eastern Hill University and Honorary Director of ICSSR-NERC, Shillong. Earlier, he was also the Dean of the School of Economics, Management and Information Sciences, and Head of the Department of Economics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. During 2008-09, Prof. Panda was also on the faculty of IIM, Shillong.Prof. Panda is an Asia fellow of Asian Scholarship Foundation, Bangkok and in this capacity worked as a Visiting Fellow in Thammasart University, Thailand and Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok during the year 2003. He has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience in different universities and colleges of the country and abroad and has also published a number of research articles in different national and international journals. Prof. Panda was a member of the (i)Expert Committee on effective initiatives under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA administration, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, 2012- 2013, (ii) Working Committee on Capacity Building in MGNREGA Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, 2010 and (iii) Expert Committee to Formulate Research Methodology for Studies on Various Aspects of MGNREGA, MORD, Govt. of India, 2010. He has also undertaken a number of research projects on topics such as Act East Policy and Transaction Costs, MGNREGA, Urban Informal Sector, and Rural Non-Farm Employment from agencies like Ministry of External Affairs, GOI, Ford Foundation, MORD, Govt. of India, UNDP India, V.V. Giri National Labour Institute NOIDA and UGC, India.

Krishna Chauhan

Dr. Krishna Chauhan served as a Former Member (Economist) of the Meghalaya State Planning Board and Former Executive Committee Member of the Indian Economic Association (IEA). Currently, he is the Coordinator of IQAC at Buddha Bhanu Saraswati College (BBS), Shillong. Dr. Chauhan has contributed significantly as Advisor, Secretary, and Member in various educational, socio-cultural, and religious organizations across Meghalaya. He has also served in multiple committees and capacities in colleges and North-Eastern Hill University, fostering academic and community development.

Veronica Pala

Veronica Pala is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences at NEHU and as a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong. Her areas of interest and specialization include Development Economics, Poverty Analysis, Inter-Social Group Disparities, Gender Issues, and Labour and Employment Issues. She is a life member of the Indian Economic Association and the Indian Society of Labour Economics. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics.

Benjamin F. Lyngdoh

Dr. Benjamin F. Lyngdoh is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department (HoD) of Tourism and Hotel Management at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, Meghalaya. He has a significant professional background, with over 18 years of experience in the academic and related sectors. Dr. Lyngdoh has extensive experience teaching various subjects including finance, management, economics, human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship, and tourism. His areas of interest and specialization include Management, Entrepreneurship, Impact Assessments, Tourism, and Hospitality. He holds memberships in several prestigious academic bodies, including the Indian Commerce Association (ICA), the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC), and the North East India Commerce and Management Association (NEICMA). He was recognized with the Silver Medal for Best Business Academic of the Year Award at the 62nd All India Commerce Conference in 2009. Dr. Lyngdoh holds an M.Com and PhD, in addition to qualifying for the NET (National Eligibility Test).