Keibul hosts Sangai festival curtain raiser
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2017:
Stating that the present Government is committed to protect and preserve the State's history and everything associated with history besides endeavouring to create new history, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren today announced that certain events of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2017 would be held at Keibul Lamjao too .
He was speaking as the chief guest at the curtain raiser of Manipur Sangai Festival, 2017 at YICCL Ground, Keibul Lamjao in Bishnupur district.
He claimed that the dream of the people of Keibul Lamjao to take part in the Sangai Festival directly has materialized today with the successful organization of the curtain raiser of Manipur Sangai Festival.
Lauding the locals and Forest Department of making the curtain raiser event a grand success, Biren appealed to the locals of Keibul Lamjao and its surrounding villages not to call bandhs and blockades in their area telling it will discourage tourists, particularly those coming from outside the State.
He asked all concerned to come to the negotiating table and sort out differences with the Government instead of calling bandhs and blockades.
While underscoring the need of showing hospitality and well mannerism to the tourists coming to the State to groom tourism sector in the State, the Chief Minister also pointed out that people of Keibul Lamjao and its adjoining villages can generate economy from tourism sector in their localities and easily sustain their livelihood.
He further lauded the locals of Keibul Lamjao and its adjoining areas telling that the population of Sangai in Keibul Lamjao has increased to 200 from 14 in the past due to the high consciousness of the local people about crucial impor- -tance of preserving Sangai and their cooperation toward this end.
Biren also said that his Government is also trying its best to a create new history of Manipur besides preserving the old ones.
Hence, the Government has started doing many good different things in the State, such as organizing of Hill Leaders Day and Meeyamgi Numit on the 10th and 15th of every month.
Announcing that his Government's initiative to provide monetary assistance/reimbursement of up to Rs 2 lakh to patients of BPL families in the State will begin from January 1, 2018, Biren reiterated that the Government has also undertaken schemes for providing monthly pension of Rs 1500 to totally disabled persons and increased the monetary assistance given to widows belonging to OBC and minority groups to Rs 45,000 from the previous Rs 30,000 .
He reaffirmed that his Government is also providing 51 different clinical tests free of cost in addition to providing medicines at subsidized rates in Government Hospitals.
While assuring that he would look into the proposal of opening Sangai Festival stalls at Keibul Lamjao, the Chief Minister assured that a school will also be constructed at Keibul Lamjao as per the wish of the locals.
Noting that Keibul Lamjao will remain an important venue for Sangai Festival in the future, Biren observed that many tourists from outside the State has started visiting Manipur for they now know that peace has been restored in the State since the last few years.
He then informed that at least 20 Multi National Companies will be signing agreement with State Government in the North East Summit that will be organized in the State for the first time for investment in hotels, motels, food processing units etc.
The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar, Works Minister Thongam Biswajit, Education Minister Th Radheshyam, Forest and Horticulture Minister Th Shyamkumar and many other Ministers, MLAs and BJP leaders in addition to high ranking civil and police officials.
Presentation of cultural items and release of balloons and white pigeons by the Chief Minister with the message of peace marked the main event of the function.
Earlier on the day, the Chief Minister had also inaugurated the Loktak Inland Transport Complex at Sendra and addressed the gathering apart from flagging off the Sangai Run Marathon from Sendra Pat.
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