Governor meets EGM : Priorities of the people are my priorities : Dr Heptulla
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2016: Interacting with members of the Editors' Guild, Manipur, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla today discussed a rang of issues plaguing the State.

Other than the Editors of the State media, the News Editor of AIR and DDK, Imphal were also present during the interaction session.

Speaking to the Editors at Raj Bhawan Dr Heptulla said.

"The priorities of the people of Manipur are my priorities" and added that in the short time that she has been in the office of the Governor she could see that communication remain a challenge in Manipur.

The Governor further said that after being sworn in she has met a number of Union Ministers and have been highlighting the issues facing Manipur.

Dr Heptulla also said she would be meeting other Ministers to reiterate her earlier requests.

"Railway is going to take some time, so we need to focus on road connectivity and the airlines," said the Governor and added that she has highlighted the condition of road communication in the State to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

"In the two weeks that I have been here I have been exposed to the rich cultural heritage of Manipur as well as its problems," said the Governor and added that communication and health issues are of concern.

She said she has floated the concept of "Flying Doctors" to reach out to far flung areas to the Prime Minister.

The "Flying doctors" concept is different from "Air ambulance", she explained and added this can really help needy people in the remote, inaccessible places.

Dr Heptulla also expressed desire to have groups of advisors to help understand the problem of the people and work out solutions for them.

She also expressed desire to work closely with the media who she said was her closest friend when she was in Parliament.

She extended invitation to the local media to meet her whenever the need arises.

The Editors Guild.

Manipur on other hand extended her a warm welcome and told her that the media was willing to work with her on issues concerning the people.

EGM members strongly recommended that she visit the hill areas to get a first hand knowledge of the problem people in the hills face as well as understand the rich culture of differenttribes of Manipur.

She was also urged to take up the issue of the two National Highways, more particularly , the Imphal-Jiribam highway.

"The British took a few weeks to connect Silchar with Imphal, that too in war time condition while the Government of India has failed to maintain it in the last 70 years of independence," pointed out a member of the EGM.

She assured she would take up the issue with the Centre.

The EGM team was led by its president A Mobi.

Altogether 11 members participated in the interaction session.

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