Revisiting Development in Meghalaya

Catastrophes are happening with frightening frequency but people and governments don’t stop long enough to think of changing the contours of “development.” In light of what happened in Nepal, it is important for the Government in Meghalaya to rethink its development agenda and its economic model. The questions: What do we mean by development, and development for whom? – are questions scientists and academics have asked for a long time but ignored. Are people even consulted when major roads and infrastructure projects are built in the New Shillong Township for instance? In the recent sudden rains, large chunks of mud and slush were carried do…