Shillong, Mar 13: The Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by the Assembly on the final day of the Budget Session, with significant amendments aimed at addressing concerns over land rights and employment opportunities for indigenous people.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma introduced the amendments, which include deleting the phrase “creation of land banks through direct purchase of land or other means.” This move aims to alleviate fears that the Act would bypass the Land Transfer Act and compromise the rights of Indigenous people.

The amendments also include provisions to ensure that the Act does not override the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971 and that all procedures, rules, and acts applicable to autonomous district councils are followed. Additionally, the Act now mentions employment generation for the state’s youth.

The government’s goal is to make Meghalaya a Rs. 87,000 crore or $10 billion economy, with investments playing a crucial role in achieving this target. The Act aims to provide a regulatory framework for investments in various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and tourism.

Despite these assurances, opposition groups, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), have expressed concerns that the Act undermines tribal land rights and have demanded its repeal.