Shillong: All roads led to Polo Ground, Shillong today to witness the historic moments being unveiled for the people of North Eastern Region when the Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi spelled out his Government’s initiatives and schemes to bring about a sustainable development in the region.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by dignitaries from the Government of India including Union Railways Minister, Shri. Suresh Prabhu and Union Minister of DoNER, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Governors and Chief Ministers of North Eastern States and others.
In his public address, the Prime Minister said that the North East is a strategically located region with huge potential for development and economic growth adding that this ‘Gateway to South East Asia’ has a great scope to further trade relations with neighbouring countries through different means of transportation.
The Prime Minister also laid stress on the Act East Policy, which is a Government’s mission to bring the region at par with the rest of the country. He informed that his Government is committed to see that proper infrastructures are being put in place so that the region could derive the benefits. Informing that Sikkim has recently been declared the 1st Organic State in the country, the Prime Minister said that the NE region has great potential of becoming the ‘Organic Food Basket of India’. This, he said, will increase the income and raise the standard of living of farmers.
Expressing happiness that the Government of Meghalaya has launched Mission Football aimed at tapping budding talents at the grassroot level, the Prime Minister said that he is aware that North East has a passion for football and that the region especially Meghalaya has produced great players worth mentioning like Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Aibor Khongjee and Marlangki Suting who have brought laurels to the State and the country. He announced that the Government of India through the Ministry of DoNER has approved a sum of 48 crores for development of football in the North East.
Before his address, the Prime Minister of India flagged off the Bhairabi (Mizoram)-Silchar (Assam) Passenger Train, Jiribam (Manipur)-Silchar (Assam) Passenger Train and Kamakhya-Katra Express (Weekly). The Prime Minister also laid the base for the construction of the International Multi Sports Stadium at Ampati, South West Garo Hills and also dedicated to the people of the nation the DOPPLER Weather Radar at Sohra, the wettest place on earth. With the Radar in operation, the Prime Minister is optimistic that natural calamities caused by rainfall and landslides could be reduced to a great extent.
Several awards were also given away by the Prime Minister which included the winner of the North East Leads the Way Run Swaachh Bharat Abhiyan, Cleanest State and Cleanest City of North East which was bagged by Sikkim and Gangtok respectively, Cleanest locality in Shillong bagged by Mission Compound and Cleanest commercial area in Shillong bagged by Laitumkhrah Main Road.
Before the main function, the Prime Minister inaugurated the exhibition where artifacts and products produced by Self Help Groups of the North East were being displayed. (MIPR)
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