RTI questions effectiveness of Sangai Festival in promoting Manipur, generating revenue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 11 2018: Advocate L Herojit Singh of Leimapokpam Mayai Leikai, Nambol filed an RTI on January 10 this year to the Director of Tourism to find out the effectiveness of the Sangai Festival in promoting Manipur as a world class tourist destination as well as in generating revenue for the State.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Advocate Herojit claimed that former Deputy Director (Tourism) Daryal Juli Anal replied to the RTI application on May 15, 2018 and claimed that the report included details of investment, revenue, number of tickets sold, organisations/department involved and their responsibilities, number of tourists etc.

He said that as per the report, no revenue records of the festival were found from the year 2010 to 2014 and added that a total of Rs 76,80,000 was invested in 2010 while Rs 1,10,00,000 was invested in 2011, Rs 1,58,33,430 in 2012, Rs 3,16,48,816 in 2013 and Rs 3,36,62,439 in 2014.Meanwhile, he said that the report also showed no history of entry tickets for the said time period.

Meanwhile, in Manipur Sangai festival 2015, a total of Rs 8,00,00,000 was invested with 2,53,962 entry tickets and a revenue of Rs 20,66,588 was collected as per the record, he added.

The report for next year (2016) turned up as Rs 8,00,00,000 for investment with 2,32,343 as entry tickets and Rs 23,43,713 as revenue, the advocate further claimed.

The amount of investment increased to Rs 9,97,60,000 in 2017, as per the report while 3,13,795 entry tickets were sold and Rs 50,97,465 was collected as revenue.

Herojit said that altogether, Rs 35,95,84,685 was funded from 2010 to 2017 while a total of Rs 95,07,766 turned up as revenue 2015-2017.The report also showed a gradual increase in number of domestic tourists (not local people) and foreign tourists from 2010, he said and conveyed the need to analyse the effectiveness of the festival regarding whether or not it is fulfilling its objective of presenting Manipur as a tourist destination apart from generating revenue for the State.

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