Curtains come down on Sangai Fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2018: Diverse festivities organised at different venues during the past 10 days came to an end today with the Manipur Sangai Festival 2018 officially declared closed at BOAT, Hapta Kangjeibung this evening.

The closing ceremony was graced by Governor Dr Najma Heptulla and Chief Minister N Biren as chief guest and president respectively.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr Najma stated that the Manipur Sangai Festival which is now a calendar event is a significant step to promote Manipur as a popular tourist destination.

The festival provides an opportunity to showcase various aspects of the State's rich traditions and culture besides promoting handloom and handicraft products and places of immense natural beauty.

Under the Act East Policy ardently pursued by the Central Government and the State Government alike, steady increase in tourism infrastructure like hotels, road and transport and specific initiatives taken up by the State Government like the Sangai Festival, things have started looking up in the tourism sector, the Governor stated.

Noting that the State is still unable to realise its full tourism potential, the Governor underscored the need to launch a multi-media campaign focusing on the State's positive aspects so as to put Manipur on the world tourism map.

Tourism is considered to be fastest growing sector in today's development scenario anywhere in the world.

Tourism has become the economic lifeline of countries without much natural resources.

The State's tourism sector deserves due attention.

Tourism infrastructure such as accommodation, road and transport are prerequisites for attracting tourists and these need to be engaged on a priority basis particularly in the hill districts, Dr Najma said.

She stated that what a tourist needs is not a five star hotel but a basic, clean, hygienic and affordable accommodation.

She also appreciated that paying guest system has been opened at some places in the State.

It is always a daunting challenge to organise a festival of such a scale specially when foreign dignitaries and foreign nationals participate.

There is always room for improvement and shortcomings noticed or encountered in this year's festival should be taken note of and addressed in the next edition, she asserted.

Chief Minister N Biren stated that the State Government would consider about reducing the number of days Sangai Festival is held from next year even though words of appreciation are received from different quarters.

He stated that he would consult his Cabinet colleagues and MLAs regarding the number of days the festival is celebrated and its coincidence with final examinations of school students.

This year's Sangai Festival was a grand success.

For the first time, Mao Cherry Blossom Festival has been merged with the Manipur Sangai Festival and Salai Holdings Pvt Ltd brought Sumo wrestling to Manipur for the first time in the entire North East region.

Many foreign dignitaries and diplomats including the US Ambassador to India, Princess of Thailand, Chief Minister of Sagaing.

Myanmar attended the festival where cultural troupes from different parts of Manipur presented colourful and captivating dance and music performances.

But the arrest of mountaineers at Nagaland who went on an expedition trip to Dzuko Valley as a part of the festival was a setback.

"We would not accept if Nagaland is claiming the entire Dzuko Valley and we would not make any such claim", asserted the Chief Minister, adding that there is a well demarcated boundary line.

15th Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh remarked that the State's governance is not running properly as the State's total population belonging to BPL category has not declined a bit even though Manipur's per capita expenditure is three times higher than States like Bihar, Biren recalled.

"But we told the 15th Finance Commission team that absence of proper governance or misgovernance has been fairly addressed during the past one year and half and we also assured than there would not be any further misgovernance in the State", Biren stated.

Out of the State's 2667 Census villages, 2360 have been covered by the Go to Village Mission.

The mission's first priority is basic amenities.

The next phase would focus on infrastructure, he continued.

Many poverty-stricken families have been found excluded from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC).

The Chief Secretary has been directed to form a special investigation team to investigate into the erroneous census operation and pull up all the officers involved in filing erroneous SECC data, said the Chief Minister.

The State Government has been keeping a close tab on the continuing spate of killing domestic animals by unknown predators, and Forest Department as well as police have been alerted, he added.

The closing ceremony was also attended by Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, top ranking civil and police officers.

A choreographic presentation composed by Progressive Artiste Laboratory's choreographer S Basu and titled Laigi Machashing and AMMTK's Hingminashi Eikhoi were presented at the closing ceremony.

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