Shillong, Sep 30 (Reporter) Meghalaya government has sought Rs 1, 14,745 crore over a five-year period as grants from the 16th Finance Commission. Speaking at the 16th Finance Commission meeting, which was chaired by its Chairman, Arvind Panagariya, Sangma said the government has identified the sectors which has affected the growth and development in the state. “In many sectors, we were not doing well, particularly in health and education. We took up the challenge, identified the concerns, and are now resolving the problems in a systematic manner,” the Chief Minister said, referring to the challenges his government had inherited from the previous government. Focussing on the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), which was double the national average in 2018, the Chief Minister said, “We introduced a holistic programme through which we identified high-risk pregnant women and the challenges for high mortality and introduced a programme for care and safe institutional deliveries. Maternal mortality is linked to social issues, infrastructure, and other services, including spacing of birth between two children.”. Referring to the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Programme, he said that the government has been able to tackle the challenges and introduced corrective measures, which have led to decline in the MMR and IMR in the state. The Chief Minister said that through the 15th Finance Commission, the state was awarded Rs. 3000 crore, and through Externally Aided Projects, the state garnered funding of around Rs. 9000 crore to initiate development and infrastructure projects. “Through partnerships that were forged with international banks, institutions, and universities like Berkeley, the state has been able to include intellectual and technological partners for a shared objective to further the development and growth aspirations of the state,” Sangma pointed out. The Chief Minister said the meeting with the 16th Finance Commission featured a comprehensive presentation on Meghalaya's current standing, including its complex challenges. “Today, we introduced our mission, which provides a strategic roadmap for Meghalaya's enhancement. We look forward to the 16th Finance Commission for consideration of our memorandum and support us adequately towards realising our vision for Meghalaya,” Sangma said. Meanwhile, Panagariya lauded the state government for giving a "fantastic presentation" on the state’s developmental goals, especially its target to be a US dollar 10 billion economy by 2028 and take the per capita income to about 3000 dollars. However, Panagariya said the state’s debt-to-GDP ratio is on the higher side, as is the fiscal deficit. He said the state’s long-term loans have disturbed its fiscal deficit and its debt-to-GDP ratio...////...